2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 5
Available Online: 12 March 2026
Author/s:
Garcia, Aurelia S.*
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), Tagudin Campus, Philippines (aurelia.garcia001@deped.gov.ph)
Ramirez, Daniel Juan
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), Tagudin Campus, Philippines (Ajeedan2012@gmail.com)
Abstract:
The microplastic pollution in food stuff specifically salt has emerged as a new environmental and health issue on a global level. It was research that evaluated the level of consumer awareness, perception, and attitudes to microplastic contamination in salt products and analyzed the correlation between these variables. Quantitative design was used which is descriptive and correlational, where 281 adult consumers aged 18 and above were sampled in Balaoan, La Union. The survey questionnaire with validated items on demographic characteristics, awareness of microplastics in salt, the perceived risk, and attitude towards consumption or avoidance of potentially contaminated products was used to collect the data. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation. It was found that consumers were moderately aware of microplastic contamination in salts, and generally had a high perception of the severity of the problem and perception of avoidance behavior. There was a positive significant relationship between educational attainment and awareness and attitude as compared to age and civil status which had little or no effect on most of the variables. Consumer responses were also not very much connected to employment status. The analysis of the correlation showed a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between awareness and perception and correlation between perception and attitude, which implies that increased risk perception (because of higher awareness) would contribute to better protective attitudes. The results indicate the significance of improving the awareness of the population as the basis of the perception of risks and the promotion of responsible consumerism. The study recommends community-based education, improved labeling, and policy interventions to reduce exposure to microplastics and promote safer salt consumption practices.
Keywords: consumer awareness, microplastics, perception and attitudes, salt contamination
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26097
Cite this article:
Garcia, A. S., & Ramirez, D. J. (2026). Consumer awareness, perception, and attitudes toward microplastic contamination in salts. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(5), 125-145. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26097
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