The role of food information in choice - attitude analysis of the students at the University of Debrecen and potential applications supporting conscious consumption

Abstract

Introduction: Conscious food consumption is influenced by several factors. Information on package labels, in accordance with European Union regulations (e.g. logos, food components, nutritional values, allergenic substances etc.) helps customers, however, it takes time to read and understand them. In this study, we present the opinion of the studied age group on food composition and the degree of interest in services available via mobile applications that may be a bridge between the consumer and product information supporting healthy and conscious food choice. Our hypothesis was: individuals who have some special diet (illness, food intolerance, vegetarian diet etc.) or do sports regularly (at least once a week) have an increased attention for food composition and they are more interested in a mobile application supporting healthychoice.
Methods: We conducted a questionnaire research that was aimed at young people aged between 18 and 25 to survey their attitude. Thus, students studying at the University of Debrecen took part in the voluntary and anonymous data collection and in total 376 replies were received. We used descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U test to analyze our data.
Results: 38% of respondents stated that have some special diet and 61% do sports at least once a week. Most respondents considered important not tochoose a product that may contain substances dangerous to health or environment, however, the majority read the ingredients list on the package only rarely or occasionally. To compare product alternatives, respondents indicated ‘price’ as the most important factor, ‘food composition’ was only the second priority. Those ones who have some special diet or do sports at least once a week, the importance of no choice food products containing ingredient that may be harmful for the health or the environment is higher (p<0.05), furthermore, they check more often the list of ingredients.
Conclusions: Our results show that respondents who do not require special diet or do not sport regularly, are less interested in reading product information. Though, simple but complex services have the potential to motivate them towards conscious food consumption. Most respondents tend to use such mobile applications that may support the conscious and healthy food purchase. It is important because most of the responding students often or almost always buy for themselves food. Thus, their opinion about product choice may be relevant to the development of mobile applications related to purchase of food products.