Generation Y's perception of product origin and its labelling in the context of food quality and safety

The aim of the paper is to identify and compare how Generation Y consumers from the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Poland perceive the p roduct origin and its labelling in the context of food quality and safety . First, the theoretical background of food quality and safety, product origin, and food origin labels is discussed. The next section is devoted to the methodology of research followed by a discussion of research results. Data were collected via the online survey with 530 respondents of Generation Y . Chi - square test, Kruskal - Wallis test and Mann - Whitney U test were used to determine whether consumer attitudes differ based on their country . A statistically significant difference between the attention given to food product s origin in the purchase decision and the responden ts ’ country was confirmed, the product origin is the most important for Poles. In comparison with Czechs and Slovaks, Poles have also a stronger preference for domestic food products, believing them to be of a higher quality than the foreign ones. In each respective country , the a wareness of food origin labels is low and their benefits are not sufficiently perceived . Statistically significant relations exist between the attitudes of Czechs and Poles as well as Slovaks and Poles, whereas there are no differe nces between the attitudes of Czechs and Slovaks.