October 17, 2023, by pczmj
“I suppose it’s fairly fashionable”: New analysis explores younger meat-eaters’ sustainable meals consumption habits.
This submit is by Dr Qian Yang, Assistant Professor in Sensory and Shopper Science and Hannah Ford, PhD scholar in Sensory and Shopper Science.
Shoppers are influential in figuring out the success of recent merchandise and future meals tendencies. As the marketplace for sustainable meals continues to increase, there’s a want to know how customers’ consumption habits and perceptions are altering. Are customers consciously transferring away from animal derived merchandise? How will protein alternate options help dietary transitions? Younger adults’ meals decisions are of specific curiosity, as they arguably form the way forward for meals.
We just lately revealed a brand new examine aimed to make clear these subjects by reviewing younger meat-eaters present consumption (i.e., meat discount, adoption of plant-based meat/seafood) in addition to perceptions in direction of novel future protein alternate options (i.e., cell-based meat/seafood and precision fermented dairy).
By means of a sequence of focus teams, this examine discovered a common development in direction of meat discount, an consciousness of the hyperlink between meals and local weather change and an optimistic view on new meals applied sciences taking part in a supportive position in future protein transitions. New-found self-sufficiency gained from transferring away from dwelling, alongside restricted meals budgets and the affect of others created adjustments in consumption, which signifies the significance of this transitional life stage on the formation of recent behaviours. Nevertheless, boundaries recognized a lack of knowledge on quantifying the environmental affect of meals, which led to uncertainty round how finest to make sustainable meals decisions. This data hole was particularly obvious for dairy and seafood in comparison with meat. To some extent this was mirrored within the acceptance of plant-based merchandise, wherein customers had elevated consumption of plant-based meat however had little expertise or curiosity in attempting plant-based seafood.
Some key enablers and boundaries in direction of client acceptance for the completely different alternate options have been highlighted:
- Enablers for plant-based meat/ seafood included comfort, optimistic sensory experiences and the affect of others, while boundaries have been associated to unfavourable well being connotations and over-processing.
- Enablers for cell-based meat/ seafood and precision fermented dairy included animal welfare, curiosity and optimised vitamin, while boundaries associated to wider client acceptance, affordability and unnaturalness.
This analysis suggests alternatives for intervention methods aiming to encourage extra sustainable meals consumption habits amongst younger meat-eaters. Notably, public consciousness across the environmental affect of meals needs to be emphasised.
To seek out out extra, the paper could be accessed right here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566632302487X
Ford, H., Gould, J., Danner, L., Bastian, S.E.P., & Yang, Q. (2023). “I suppose it’s fairly fashionable”: A qualitative perception into younger meat-eaters’ sustainable meals consumption habits and perceptions in direction of present and future protein alternate options. Urge for food. 190, 107025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107025
