Burgers: ¿junk or healthy? Difference between the perception of teenagers and adults

ROASCIO A.; JIMENEZ M.D.; BARRIOS G.; GÁMBARO A.

Rhode Island

Simposio; Pangborn 2017; 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate through Focus Groups (FG) the perception of teenagers and young adults of a popular consumption product like hamburgers.Six FG sessions were performed: 3 with teenagers between 15 and 18 years of age (n=17) and 3 with professionals without children, between 25 and 35 years of age (n=20). The consumption habits, concept of an ideal hamburger and how healthy the product was perceived were explored.Teenagers showed a tendency to consume frozen burgers of different brands and in fast food restaurants, unlike the adults whose consumption was characterized by being at home with homemade or frozen burgers, with little consumption at fast food restaurants. Both groups considered hamburgers as junk food, principally because of the quality of the meat used, the cooking methods and the accompaniments. The idea of a ?healthy burger? is one prepared with bread, lean meat, little salt, more vegetables, less sauces, without bacon and with boiled egg. Also, perceptions coincided in considering the homemade burger as healthier, followed by frozen and those from restaurants; and unhealthy, burgers from fast food restaurants and food trucks. Both groups agreed that the homemade burger has the advantage of a knowledge of the ingredients and preparation, unlike the frozen burgers from which the origin of the meat is unknown and ?contains additives?, although they are fast, practical and convenient to make, while the homemade burgers require more time.A decrease in the consumption of burgers can be noticed with age accompanied by a change in behavior: the teenagers consumed them for pleasure and price, while the adults wanted something quick and easy to make when with friends and family.