Perception of dehydrated products by Mexican consumers

• Minimize loss and waste of primary products like fruit and vegetables is mandatory • Dehydrating primary products extends their post-harvest and marketing life • The perception of Mexican consumers over dehydrated products was studied • Nutritional value and health benefits are reasons for consuming dehydrated products • The low availability of dehydrated foods is a limiting factor in their consumption Food loss and waste are well documented in Mexico and worldwide. Food insecurity is particularly common in developing countries. Regardless of available drying technologies, primary product dehydration can be an alternative to minimize the loss of highly perishable fresh food products (e.g., fruit and vegetables) and contribute to food security programs, mainly in rural regions where food conservation infrastructures are scarce. Through an online survey from a calculated sample of 885 participants, the Mexican consumers' perception of plant-based dehydrated products mainly was studied. Overall, the primary reasons for consuming dehydrated products were: practicality (22.2 %), flavor (20.4 %), nutritional value (16.1 %), and health benefits (13.8 %). Consumers were also interested in products made from fruit powders. In contrast, 21.1% of non-consumers found dehydrated products hard to obtain, while 15.9% were unfamiliar with these products. In conclusion, this study found that the major factors limiting the consumption of dehydrated foods are their low availability, a lack of global knowledge regarding these products, and misconception about their cost. This research explored only the consumption of plant-based dehydrated products in Mexico. Therefore, the next step must include animal-based dehydrated products and the socioeconomic stratification of the population.