Monitoring changes in food neophobia level and attitude towards street food of tourists with the moderating effects of different sensory attributes

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between attitudes towards street food and food neophobia among the tourists was examined with two-way hypotheses. In this relationship, the moderating effect of the sensory attributes (texture, taste, smell, appearance, stickiness, hardness/softness, chewiness) on the attitude towards street food and food neophobia level of 650 tourists visiting Türkiye was determined. As food neophobia level increased, the positive attitude towards street food decreased. In the individual evaluation of the moderating effects, it was found that taste, smell, appearance, and hardness/softness improved attitudes towards street food even in the presence of food neophobia. The negative attitude towards street food caused by neophobia turned positive with the influence of these characteristics. Street foods with high acceptable texture and stickiness scores reduced the level of food neophobia. Strikingly, the neophobes who have a positive attitude towards street foods despite low-scored sensory characteristics may be neophiles towards some specific street foods.

Keywords

• Neophobic
• Neophile
• Sensory
• Experience
• Street food

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Amasya University (approval number is E-30640013-108.01-135626). Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants.

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