Not everyone is comfortable eating food with a person's picture on it, ASU study finds

People are less likely to use or consume disposable items like food and napkins featuring photos of a person or a living thing, says an ASU marketing expert.

In this story published Oct. 23, 2024, on KJZZ:

It's something that always kind of occurred, but now with advances in technology, it's very common in gift-giving. If you've ever gone to Shutterfly... even on your phone, there's a variety of apps that you can use to personalize items. For a long time, it was mostly more durable items, you know: mugs and blankets. I've seen cushions, pillows, and throw pillows, but now there seems to be a greater focus on items that are more novel, disposable items like M&Ms, napkins, or cookies. So it's something that's growing in prevalence, but it's often used either as a gift or promotional material, kind of a celebratory event. I've seen images of graduation-type photos, somebody with a cap and gown on that you can use as a gift.

– Adriana Samper, associate professor of marketing