FACTORS INFLUENCING MEAT CONSUMPTION AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA: DOES “CHOLESTEROL RISK PERCEPTION” REALLY MATTER?

Abstract

The study examined the potential roles certain household socioeconomic factors and cholesterol risk perception could play in influencing consumption of beef and other animal meats among households in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State. A total of 120 households were selected through a combination of purposive and simple random sampling techniques, with questionnaire administered on the household heads to elicit information.  The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Seemingly Unrelated Regression model. The majority (82.5%) of the household heads had formal education, and spent more than 60% of total meat budget on beef. Whereas household income, household size,  sex (female dummy) of the household head, and access up to secondary school education  significantly enhanced beef consumption, cholesterol risk perception in beef had a reducing effect.  Household size, marital status, and access to tertiary education by the household head significantly influenced consumption of other animal meats while cholesterol risk perception had negative but insignificant influence. Although increased income, and access to education are crucial for raising meat consumption, the somewhat negative effect on consumption attributable to the perceived risk of consuming cholesterol (in meats) holds some implications for policy.  Our findings call for renewed attention on the development of livestock sector for the production of low fat/cholesterol meat (particular beef) in order to meet the rising consumer concerns for health risk in foods.