In recent years, the increasing number of health
conscious, informed, and more demanding consumers
has led to an increase in demand for
healthy, safe, and environmentally friendly food
products. The food industry has responded to this
increased demand by offering a wider range
of quality-differentiated products (Fraz~o and
Allshouse 1996), including organic foods, products
with other nutritional and food safety characteristics,
products with claims that they were produced
with sound environmental and animal welfare
practices, and kosher foods. Food processors and
retailers have been quick to use quality claims in
marketing these products,