Characterization of consumers of pork and its derivatives in the municipality of Rio Branco, Acre

The objective of this research was to characterize the consumption and consumer profile of pork and pork products in the municipality of Rio Branco, Acre. For this characterization, an online questionnaire containing thirteen multiple-choice questions was administered, which was prepared using Google Docs and the Google Forms platform. A total of 174 people completed the questionnaire, and the data were then statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, obtaining the absolute and relative frequencies for each question. Pork did not demonstrate a preference among consumers, with a greater preference for beef (75%) and chicken (24%). The vast majority of respondents consume pork (90%), with factors related to taste (37%), health issues (17%), and price (14%) being the main reasons for consumers' non-consumption of pork. Regarding consumption, there is a preference for pork cuts, representing 64% of all other forms of consumption, followed by sausages (20%). The most consumed cuts were steak (47%), ribs (19%), and pork leg (18%). Flavor (65%), custom (16%), ease of preparation (8%), and price (8%) were the main reasons for this preference. Most consumers consume pork ham once a month (38%), followed by those who consume it weekly (20%) and biweekly (15%). The main place to purchase pork was supermarkets (50%), and the vast majority of consumers (73%) believe that pork is healthy. Some consumers were unsure (23%), and a minority (4%) believe that pork is unhealthy. Thus, for consumers in the city of Rio Branco, AC, pork consumption is limited, demonstrating, when choosing what to eat, a preference for cuts, especially the steak, due to its flavor. Furthermore, the vast majority consume pork and believe it to be healthy.