Food Purchasing Behavior Research Articles

Effect of Individuals’ Green Purchasing Behavior, Consumption and Environmental Awareness (The Case of Manisa Province of Salihli District)

Amaç: Çevre bilincine sahip bireylerin satın alımlarında, doğal kaynakları tüketmeyen, insan sağlığına önem veren çevre dostu ürünleri tercih etmeleri, piyasada çevre dostu ürün olarak adlandırılan yeşil gıda ürünlerinin ön planda olmasını sağlayacaktır. Bu nedenle bireylerin satın alım tercihlerini belirleyen faktörlerin araştırılması, çevre bilinç düzeylerinin analiz edilmesi çalışmalarda önemli rol oynamaktadır. Materyal ve Yöntem: Bu araştırmada, Manisa İli Salihli merkez ilçesinde yaşayan 400 birey ile yapılan anketler sonucunda elde edilen veriler eşliğinde, bireylerin yeşil gıda satın alma davranışı, tüketimi ve çevre bilincine etkisi incelenmiştir. Araştırma Bulguları: Araştırma bulgularına göre, bireylerin %55.75’inin yeşil gıda ürünü hakkında bilgi sahibi olmadığı gözlenmiştir. Yeşil ürün kavramını “insan ve çevre dostu ürünler” olarak tanımlayan bireylerin %40.00’ının çevre dostu olan yeşil gıdalar için %1-5 aralığında fazladan ödeme yaparak almaya razı oldukları belirlenmiştir. Bireylerin yeşil ürün olmasına en fazla dikkat ettikleri ürün grupları gıda ve temizlik ürünleridir. Bireylerin çevreye duyarlılıklarının belirlenmesi için Faktör analizi, yeşil gıda ürünü tüketimini etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi içinde Binary Logit Analizi uygulanmıştır. Sonuç: Araştırma sonucunda yeşil gıda ürününü tanıma durumu ile eğitim durumu, gelir grubu ve yaş grubu arasında istatistiki olarak anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu gözlenmiştir. Araştırma sonucu doğrultusunda Manisa İli Salihli İlçesinde bireylerin satın alım ve tüketimlerinde yeşil gıda ürünü ve çevre bilinci konusunda duyarlı oldukları ve çevreyi, doğayı ve sağlığı korumaya istekli oldukları görülmektedir.

Psychological pressure and changes in food consumption: the effect of COVID-19 crisis

In this paper, we investigate the short-term and long-term effects of the COVID-19 emergency on consumers' decision of changing dietary habit. We used a certified dataset reporting information about 456 Italian consumers during the lockdown in the first wave of the pandemic emergency (April 2020). The survey collected data about changes in food purchases, respondents' mood during the lockdown, conspiracist beliefs, exposure to the virus, and planned food purchasing behavior after the lockdown. We used the data to construct measures of the psychological pressure exerted by the COVID-19 emergency on consumers. We use an endogenous selection regression model to assess the impact of psychological pressure on the decision of changing food purchased. The analysis identified two opposite approaches to change in food purchasing decisions: impulsive approach and reflective approach. The former is associated with a higher probability of changing food purchase but a lower probability to keep the changes in the long run than the latter. Our results suggest that COVID-19 psychological pressure was associated with impulsive approach to buy food. Consequently, food-purchasing behavior is expected to revert to pre-COVID 19 habits when the emergency is over.

The Influence of Impulsiveness on Local Food Purchase Behavior in a Tourism Context

People show different purchasing behavior during travel than in their daily lives. During vacation, due to time limitations tourists tend to purchase local products impulsively. The current study aimed to incorporate impulsiveness in the Theory of Reasoned Action in a tourism context. The conceptual model assumes the direct influence of impulsiveness on the intention to eat local food and the food related behavior. We have also tested the moderating impact of impulsiveness on the relationship between affective attitude and intention. We have collected 380 questionnaires among visitors in South Carolina, USA and analyzed the results with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). While the impact of impulsiveness on intention and behavior was not significant, the indirect influence of impulsiveness on the relationship between positive attitude and intention was. Current study showed the importance of positive attitude on the local food consumption among tourists. Study also revealed that impulsive people tend to act on positive thoughts and emotions. The promotional efforts to sell local food in the region should aim to strengthen positive emotions and encourage impulse purchase among tourists.

University Students Purchasing Food on Campus More Frequently Consume More Energy-Dense, Nutrient-Poor Foods: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

University food environments are typically dominated by unhealthy food choices. The aim was to investigate associations between on-campus food purchasing behaviours and dietary intake in an Australian university student sample. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017–2018 with students (n = 362, 71.0% female, mean age 27.5 ± 10.5 years) from the University of Newcastle, Australia. On-campus food purchasing behaviours (purchasing frequency and weekly expenditure), dietary intake (diet quality and percentage energy/day from energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods) and sociodemographic and student characteristics (e.g., time spent on campus) were measured. Linear regression was used to explore associations between food purchasing behaviours and dietary intake, adjusted for potential confounders. Mean percentage energy/day from EDNP foods was 31.7 ± 14.4. Mean diet quality score was 32.6 ± 10.2 out of 73. Higher percentage energy/day from EDNP foods was associated with higher weekly expenditure (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and more frequent purchase (β = 18.041, p < 0.001 for ≥4 times a week vs. never) of food/drinks on campus. Diet quality was not significantly associated with purchase frequency or expenditure (p > 0.05). Findings are supportive of changes being made to university food environments, as a strategy to improve dietary intake among university students.

86185 Food Cost and Perceptions: through the lens of coaches providing family-based childhood obesity treatment

ABSTRACT IMPACT: This work will help to identify ways to adapt family-based obesity treatment based on families’ food purchasing behaviors and beliefs. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Families in obesity treatment are encouraged to make dietary changes. Dietary changes are impacted by food choices, which can be influenced by food cost. The objective of this research is to explore families’ food purchase behaviors and beliefs from the perspective of their health coach, and to assess how health coaches adapt treatment to address these. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Semi- structured telephone interviews were conducted with 10 health coaches in the Effectiveness of Family-Based Weight Loss Treatment Implementation in Primary Care (PLAN) study across four geographic locations in MO, NY, and OH. Topics covered were professional background, perspectives on working with families, and discussions with families regarding cost perception and food choice. Conventional content analysis was used through ‘open-coding’ of transcribed text by reading the transcripts and assigning labels. Codes were then organized into themes. In addition to the interviews, coaches were asked to complete a FRAME checklist to identify adaptations or modifications that were made to the treatment. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The coaches reported that cost is a barrier to making healthier food choices for some but not all of their FBT families. Themes for cost as a barrier include: fast food is cheaper; justification to choose old food choices; sales on foods high in calories and sugar; bulk buying; and fewer sales on healthier options. Themes for what families consider when purchasing healthier items include: perishable foods, increased waste, picky kids, lack of knowledge about healthy eating on a budget, afraid of including new foods, and no money for new foods. The final stage of content analysis for the FRAME schematic checklist is ongoing. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: The results exemplify that families’ have different food purchasing behaviors and beliefs and consider a variety of factors when making food choices. The data gathered from the FRAME checklists will help in characterizing the adaptations or modifications made by coaches and allow for better understanding of the impact on the families.

Street Food Buying Behavior and Satisfaction of Foreign Independent Travelers Visiting Korea: Nationality Region Comparison

Street Food Buying Behavior and Satisfaction of Foreign Independent Travelers Visiting Korea: Nationality Region Comparison

Can opinion leaders through Instagram influence organic food purchase behaviour in Saudi Arabia?

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influence of online opinion leadership and opinion seeking the intention to purchase and purchase behaviour of organic food in Saudi Arabia.Design/methodology/approachThis study used an online questionnaire as a method to collect data from Instagram users in Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis was performed using the SmartPLS to test the research model.FindingsThe study demonstrates the links between the perceived benevolence of the opinion leadership through Instagram and purchase behaviour of organic food and between opinion seeking and intention to purchase.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights into the favourable impact of opinion leadership and opinion seeking on consumers’ intention to purchase and purchase behaviour for marketers, especially in the organic food sector of a Middle Eastern context.Originality/valuePrior studies have investigated the impact of opinion leadership and opinion seeking on purchase behaviour, but not within the organic food sector. This study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by providing useful insights to enhance the understanding of the influence of online opinion leadership on purchase behaviour of organic food. This study also makes a valuable contribution to organic food research in Middle East countries, where there is a lack of research on organic food purchase behaviour.

Factors related to poor diet quality in food insecure populations.

It is well-known that consumption of nutrient-rich foods, especially fruits and vegetables, are low among food insecure populations. While cost is an important reason for these inadequate diets, underlying factors such as poor food purchase and management behaviors, and low levels of psychosocial factors that motivate dietary improvements, may exacerbate food insufficiency among the food-insecure. In this analysis, we examine these underlying factors across food-secure and food-insecure populations in Texas. Data on self-reported food insecurity, dietary practices, behaviors related to food purchase and management, and psychosocial factors related to food were obtained from a survey administered to a convenience sample of SNAP-eligible adults (n = 1,171) ages 18 and older, drawn from multiple low-income areas across the state of Texas in 2018 over two survey rounds. Mixed linear regression models adjusting for zip code as a random effect were used to compare mediators of diet across food-insecure and food-secure participants. Using the binary categories defined by the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module scale 753 participants (64.3% of the sample collected) were classified as food insecure. Food insecure participants had notably unhealthier diet profiles, with significantly lower (p < .001) frequency and average serving size of fruit and vegetable consumption. They were also less likely to use food labels to make food choices (p < .001), and to cook a meal at home (p = .008). In contrast, differences across food secure and food insecure households in planning meals before going shopping, and making lists were much smaller. Finally, levels of various psychosocial precursors of healthy eating were also lower among food insecure participants, including self-efficacy for healthy eating (p = .014), self-efficacy to plan meals with vegetables (p = .048), and stage of change of fruit and vegetable consumption (p < .001). Overall, eating habits, specific food procurement and preparation practices, and levels of psychosocial precursors of healthy eating are significantly poorer among food insecure populations compared with food-secure low-income participants. Our results point to specific behaviors that can be targeted in educational and skill building interventions seeking to address poor dietary practices among the food insecure.

Testing the feasibility of a sustainable preschool obesity prevention approach: a mixed-methods service evaluation of a volunteer-led HENRY programme

BackgroundOver the last 10 years HENRY has been working to reduce and prevent child obesity by training health and early years professionals to deliver its evidence-based programme to parents. The aim and unique contribution of this study was to evaluate whether training volunteers to deliver this programme on a one-to-one basis was feasible.MethodsMixed-methods service evaluation with parent-reported pre- and post-programme outcomes and focus groups conducted with parents and volunteer facilitators. The programme consisted of 8 one-to-one sessions delivered weekly by volunteers (n = 18) to build food and activity-related knowledge, skills, and understanding, and improve parenting efficacy, and parent and child eating and physical activity. Programmes took place at parent’s (n = 69) home or local community venues in four London boroughs, United Kingdom. Parent-reported parenting efficacy, emotional wellbeing, eating, and physical activity data were captured, alongside parent ratings of the programme and volunteer ratings of the training. Parent and volunteer focus groups explored involvement, expectations, and experiences of the programme, training and delivery, feedback, and impact.ResultsParents were mostly female, had varied ethnic backgrounds, and were often not working but well educated. There were statistically significant improvements of a medium-to-large size in parent and child emotional wellbeing, parenting efficacy, fruit and vegetable consumption, family eating and food purchasing behaviours. Parent ratings of the programme were positive and qualitative data highlighted the holistic nature of the programme, which focused on more than just food, and the relationships with volunteers as key facets. Volunteers were also mostly female, had varied ethnic backgrounds, and were often well educated, but more likely to be employed than parents. Volunteers rated the training and delivery as useful in enabling them to deliver the programme confidently and for their own wellbeing. Despite finding some sessions challenging emotionally, volunteers reported positive family lifestyle improvements by parents and children and that the experience would be useful for future employment.ConclusionsIt is feasible to recruit and train volunteers to deliver a structured preschool obesity prevention programme, which parents considered acceptable and enjoyable, with preliminary reports of parent and child benefits.

Understanding Students’ and Science Educators’ Eco-Labeled Food Purchase Behaviors: Extension of Theory of Planned Behavior with Self-Identity, Personal Norm, Willingness to Pay, and Eco-Label Knowledge

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand antecedents of students’ and science educators’ purchasing behaviors for eco-labeled foods with the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model including self-identity, personal norm, willingness to pay, and eco-label knowledge in the Turkish context. A web-based survey was used to collect data from 3,393 people including middle school students, high school students, pre-service science teachers, science teachers, and academic staff. The results revealed that both the original (32%) and extended (37%) TPB models successfully explained intentions to purchase eco-labeled foods. In addition, personal norm, eco-label knowledge, and intention explained 25% of the variance in purchase behaviors indicating an acceptable explanatory power. In the original TPB model, attitude and perceived behavioral control had positive influence on intention, and in addition to those factors, willingness to pay and self-identity had a positive effect on intention in the extended TPB model. However, subjective norm had no significant influence on intention for both models. As a result, the study has important practical implications for policy and curriculum makers, education stakeholders, and science educators.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Consumption Habits, Food Purchasing Behaviours, and Food Security Status among South Africans

This study assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food consumption habits, food purchasing behaviours, and food security status among South African adults. The researchers conducted an online consumer survey for the month of October 2020. Approximately two-thirds of participants were youth and women, predominantly from KwaZulu-Natal. A significant number of participants reported to either having remained the same weight or gained weight. Changes in food consumption habits included a significant increase in snack consumption, increased water consumption, and improved food skills. Notably, no food was eaten significantly more than before COVID-19 and no food was eaten significantly less than before COVID-19. Regarding food purchasing behaviours, a significantly high number of participants indicated that food prices increased during the lockdown. Whilst a significant number of participants indicated that they had no difficulties eating enough food, a significant number of participants reported that they could not afford to buy more food and as a coping strategy resorted to planting vegetables. The findings of this survey provide an advancement of knowledge on food consumption, food purchasing behaviours, and food security status during emergency situations as well as long-term food-related strategies.

Food Access and Experience of Food Insecurity in Nigerian Households during the COVID-19 Lockdown

The food insecurity experiences and related behaviors of Nigerian households during the COVID-19 lockdown have not been fully discussed. This study was conducted to elicit information on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on economic and behavioral patterns related to food access. An online-based semi-structured questionnaire distributed through messaging platforms was used to collect information on characteristics, food purchasing behaviour before and during COVID-19 lockdown among respondents. Experience of food insecurity was assessed using Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). A total of 883 responses were received and analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0. Most of the respondents (90.5%) were at home or had stopped going to work due to COVID-19 restrictions. Even though smaller households had higher food expenditure claims than larger households (p = 0.012), the larger the household, the more acute the challenge of economic access to food (p = 0.050). Location (p = 0.000), age (p = 0.003), occupation (p = 0.014) and income level (p = 0.000) were associated with experience of food insecurity. In conclusion, lockdown restrictions increased food expenditure and experience of food insecurity among the respondents and thus we recommend the probe of long-term consequences of deviations from usual food access on undernutrition or overnutrition in Nigerian households.

The relationship between spatial and in-store food environments and adolescent food purchasing and dietary behaviours: a systematic review

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Dimensions of Household Food Waste in Turkey

Food waste creates an increasing concern at the global level and searching methods how to solve food waste is also a significantly increasing. Finding adequate solutions and implementing is only possible through defining the problem. To solve a complicated problem like food waste which interests large population and has different kind of features for each product is a time consuming. At this point, revealing food waste at the different stages is important. The biggest share from the waste is taken by households. This study covers the analyses results of the surveys conducted in 3 big cities in different geographic region in order to identify household food waste’s level in Turkey. Totally 1155 surveys were conducted in Erzurum, ?zmir and Adana in June 2016 and 2017. In addition to food waste, its perception, food purchase and store behaviors of the consumers were investigated. The results show that households wasted about 7.5 tones food during the month surveys carried out. Only 180 families out of 1155 had no food waste and this number is higher in Erzurum. The highest food waste was observed in Adana where it was 823 kg per week while it was 652 kg in Erzurum and 393 kg in ?zmir.

Urban Fijian Indigenous Families’ Positive and Negative Diet, Eating and Food Purchasing Experiences During the COVID 19 Safety Protocols

The Greater Suva Urban Area (GSUA) is the most densely populated area in Fiji and was greatly affected by the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study explores how lockdown and other COVID-19 safety protocols impacted the diets, eating behaviour and food purchasing behaviour of iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) families living in the GSUA. In-depth interviews with 13 iTaukei mothers from diverse socio-economic and occupational backgrounds highlight that loss of income was related to food insecurity, which also affected access to balanced meals and dietary diversity. Women also noted positive changes, including (1) reduced consumption of red and processed meat, (2) increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, (3) reduction in eating out and greater reliance on home-cooked meals, (4) reduction in food wastage, (5) increase in home gardening, and (6) greater concern for health and well-being. Unhealthy eating behaviours were also recorded, including greater reliance on energy-dense foods, increased cooking and baking of unhealthy foods, increased snacking, and replacing dinner with tea, snacks and sugary foods. These findings raise concerns about the long-term effects of COVID19 safety protocols on health and well-being and provide insights into opportunities for promoting healthier eating lifestyles, better management of resources, and enhancing food security.

Relationship between Food Hygiene Education Experience and Food Purchasing Behavior, Knowledge, and Practices

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of food safety awareness, purchasing behavior, food safety knowledge, and food safety practice in accordance with food hygiene education experiences in adults.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was answered by 305 adults in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions.Chi-square test, independent t-test, and multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between food hygiene education experience and related factors.Results: The need for information was found to be significantly higher for the group with experience in food hygiene education. As for purchasing behavior, participants mainly considered price, taste, and safety of food, and frequently confirmed the expiration date and price using food labels. Participants considered major supermarkets and convenience stores as safe places to purchase food. Food hygiene knowledge showed significantly higher correct answer rates in almost all items for the group with education experience. Even if the expiration date had not yet been reached the habit of not eating food if there was a strange smell when opened was practiced, and the group with more educational experience practiced this significantly more often.Participants with higher awareness of food hygiene showed significantly greater intention to participate in food hygiene education.Conclusions: The group with experience in food hygiene education showed a greater need to obtain information on food hygiene and had better knowledge and practices regarding food hygiene. Therefore, food hygiene education and information are necessary to ensure the safety of food hygiene and to promote the health of the people.

THE EFFECT OF FOOD INFLUENCERS ON CONSUMERS INTENTION TO PURCHASE FOOD PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Information related to food products/services conveyed by food influencers has the potential to affect consumers’ food purchasing behavior through mechanism of social influence. This study aimed to examine the effect of perceived usefulness of food influencers’ recommendation on the intention to purchase food products/services. The study also tested the effect of perceived usefulness of food influencers’ recommendation on consumers’ attitudes, and the mediating role of consumers' attitudes between perceived usefulness of food influencers’ recommendation and intention to purchase food products/services. The questionnaire was designed from previous studies consisting of perceived usefulness, consumers’ attitudes and purchase intention. Data were collected from 394 participants, responding the questionnaire Instagram influencers posted. Hypotheses were tested by explanatory factor and regression analysis. All hypotheses were supported. The study results provide important inferences to food brands/businesses in terms of brand collaborations with influencers. The results are also expected to contribute to the relevant literature investigating the effects of food influencers on consumers' purchase intention.

COVID-19 and the agri-food system in the United States and Canada

Agri-food supply chains in North America have become remarkably efficient, supplying an unprecedented variety of items at the lowest possible cost. However, the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the near-total temporary loss of the foodservice distribution channel, exposed a vulnerability that many found surprising. Instead of continued shortages, however, the agri-food sector has since moved back to near normal conditions with prices and production levels similar to those typically observed in years prior to the pandemic. Ironically, the specialization in most food supply chains designed for “just-in-time” delivery to specific customers with no reserve capacity, which led to the initial disruptions, may have also been responsible for its rapid rebound. A common theme in assessing the impacts across the six commodities examined is the growing importance of understanding the whole supply chain.Over the longer term, a continuation of the pandemic could push the supply chain toward greater consolidation of firms and diversification of products given the increasing option value of maintaining flexibility. Other structural changes will be felt through input markets, most notably labour, as the trend toward greater automation will continue to accelerate as a response to meeting concerns about a consistent supply of healthy and productive workers. The economic fall out from the pandemic may lead to greater concentration in the sector as some firms are not able to survive the downturn and changes in consumer food buying behaviour, including movement toward online shopping and enhanced demand for attributes associated with resiliency, such as local. On the other hand, online shopping may provide opportunities for small producers and processors to shorten supply chains and reach customers directly. In the long term, COVID-19 impacts on global commerce and developing country production are more uncertain and could influence poverty reduction. While COVID-19's impacts on North American agriculture should have minimal effect on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through food prices, the ongoing global trends in trade and agribusiness accelerated by the pandemic are relevant for achievement of the SDGs.

Socio-Demographic Factor and Selected Buying Behavioral Attributes of Purchasing Convenience Food: Multiple Correspondence Analyses to Explore the Relationship

The objective of the study is to establish the relationship between socio demographic factors and buying behavior attributes towards convenience food. The present study is cross sectional in nature. Correspondence analysis method has been used to explore the relationship between socio- demographic factor and attribute associated with packaged food buying behavior. The correspondence analysis helps in evaluating the consumer preference of numerous qualitative parameters. The socio- demographic characteristics includes education, occupation, household size, age and income. The study was conducted in Bhubaneswar and the primary data was extracted from 711 respondents. The data is nominal in nature. The respondents are student, service people, businessmen and few housewives. The entire data was collected through Google form. The results of correspondence analysis suggest that there is significant relationship between socio-demographic factor and food preference attributes towards convenience food depicted through correspondence map. The young and less educated people prefer taste n flavor, variants, convenience, affordability, quick preparation and higher shelf life in packaged food item. On the contrary people with high age and in high income bracket prefer healthiness, food safety and strictly observe food labeling while purchasing. Such people prefer home cooked meal.

Identifying the key purchase factors for organic food among Chinese consumers

The current study primarily aims to identify the critical purchase factors that affect Chinese consumer purchase intention and purchase decision with regard to organic food consumption, in accordance with a modified theory of planned behavior and the alphabet theory. Specifically, this study builds a conceptual research framework by which to delve into the relationships between purchase factors and purchase intention, and elucidate the mediating roles of purchase factors in the relationships between purchase intention and purchase decision. Moreover, by leveraging a modified theory of planned behavior and the alphabet theory, the current study also determines the critical roles of subjective norms and reveals the information and knowledge that impact consumer attitude toward the purchase of organic food. The current study leverages the purposive sampling method and captures 310 records within Beijing, China. The results indicate that purchase attitude correlates positively with subjective norms and knowledge, while purchase intention correlates positively with purchase attitude, perceived behavior control, and food therapy culture. Furthermore, purchase intention can significantly mediate relationships between each of purchase attitude, perceived behavior control, food therapy culture, and purchase decision. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical significance of the framework, and propose subsequent research directions regarding organic food purchase behavior.