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a b s t r a c tIn this study, an extended TPB model is applied for analyzing consumers' purchasing behavior of regional pork. In addition to cognitive attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control the model includes personal norms/Affective Attitudes. Furthermore, identification with and perceived authenticity of a labeled region-of-origin are considered as determinants of consumers' product perception. Based on a sample of 483 consumers, living in the German Federal State North-Rhine Westphalia, the study shows that normative and affective behavioral determinants are most relevant for consumers' purchasing intention. Moreover, identification with and authenticity of a region both have a significant influence on the personal norms/affective attitudes and on cognitive attitudes that consumers hold towards regional pork.

PurposeAll food sectors, especially meat production and processing, has been in the dock over the last decades. CSR is considered as a way for an enterprise to increase its reputation and safeguard against risks, e.g. food safety, environmental or social incidence. Thus, it is not surprising that CSR has gained importance for meat companies. However, the question arises whether consumers are indeed aware and appreciative of this involvement. This paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachA convenient sample of 123 consumers was interviewed with a standardized questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive as well as uni‐ and multivariate methods.FindingsThe results show that CSR is hardly known by German consumers and only plays a moderate role in their present purchase behavior. However, consumers are interested in CSR and the survey results reveal a potential for CSR to become an important determinant in consumers' purchase decision of meat.Research limitations/implicationsConcerning the interpretation of the results, there exist potential limitations that arise from the small sample size, the method of data collection and a social desirability bias in responses. Future research may analyze the role of CSR in consumers' purchase decisions using non‐hypothetical choice experiments.Practical implicationsThere is scope for companies to gain competitive advantage by responsible conduct and by spreading information about that in a thoughtful and authentic manner. This holds especially for the area of animal welfare.Originality/valueThere exists little research that analyzes consumers' attitudes towards and perception of CSR for the food sector and no study so far has concentrated on the meat industry. This study provides information for decision makers in food companies and researchers interested in the impact of CSR on consumers' attitudes and behavior.

According to numerous surveys the perceived risk of nanotechnology is low and most people feel that the benefits outweigh the risks. This article provides greater insight into risk perception and concludes that the positive attitude to nanotechnology is based not on knowledge but on hope and fascination. The perceived risk is low because of a lack of vivid and frightening images of possible hazards. If news flashes were to link nanotechnology to concrete hazards or actual harm to people, attitudes might suddenly change. Risk communication faces the problem of dealing with a public at large that has little or no knowledge about the technology. As it takes time and extensive additional research to develop appropriate communication strategies and disseminate them to the relevant institutions, this exercise should be started immediately.

We identify spatial agglomerations in the German food industry, using the Cluster Index by Sternberg and Litzenberger. Previous studies have analysed this industry utilizing aggregated data with the result of a lack of agglomerations. Given its heterogeneous character, the present study analyses subsectors of the German food industry at a disaggregated spatial and sectoral level. The results show spatial agglomerations in particular for the subsectors processing and preserving of meat, fish, fruit, wine, milk, mineral water as well as for breweries. This indicates that those subsectors are characterized by stronger cluster self-enforcing processes likely in combination with a favourable proximity to natural resources. JEL classification: R11, R12, O14