Modeling the intention to accept 3D-printed foods: the role of religious beliefs, food neophobia and food technology neophobia

Abstract 3D-printed food offers promising solutions for prevailing food industry issues and has attracted growing research interest, particularly regarding consumer acceptance. However, previous studies have failed to determine how consumers’ religious beliefs, food neophobia, and food technology neophobia shape their intention to accept 3D-printed food. This study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explore how religious beliefs affect consumers’s intentions to accept 3D-printed food, mediated by TPB constructs and moderated by neophobia levels. Data were collected through cross-sectional questionnaires from 306 residents in Malaysia, a country characterized by diverse religious backgrounds, and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results showed that consumers’ attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms positively mediated the influence of religious beliefs on intention to accept 3D-printed food. Findings confirm that the intensity of food and food tech neophobia influences whether consumers’ intention to accept 3D-printed food is strengthened, weakened, or unaffected. This study adds to the research on consumer behavior and food technology adoption by understanding the role of religious beliefs and core constructs of TPB as drivers of consumers’ intentions to accept 3D-printed food.