Environmentally responsible food choices: A study of gastronomy students

Öz

Environmental knowledge plays a significant role in individuals’ sustainable food consumption according to a literature. Environmental knowledge refers to an individual’s understanding of topics such as nature, the environment, the current environmental conditions, the causes of environmental issues, and their potential impacts. The level of concern individuals feel about environmental problems and possible environmental hazards is conceptualized as environmental concern. Considering these concepts, it is observed that individuals tend to favor behaviors that are perceived or known to cause less harm to the environment in their consumption choices, and that environmental consumption is related to environmental awareness. This study aims to examine the impact of environmental knowledge and environmental concerns on food preferences. The sample consists of undergraduate students from the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. The results show that as environmental knowledge increases, environmentally responsible food choices also increase. Although environmental concerns do not have a direct effect on environmentally responsible food choices, the increase in environmental concerns, as environmental knowledge grows, acts as a mediating variable influencing environmentally responsible food choices. Since environmental knowledge enhances environmentally responsible food choices, the development of environmental awareness in individuals will lead to positive outcomes in all consumption choices, not just food preferences, through an environmentally friendly approach.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Environmental knowledge
• Environmental concern
• Environmentally responsible food choice
• Gastronomy students

Çevresel açıdan sorumlu gıda seçimleri: Gastronomi öğrencileri üzerine bir araştırma

Öz

Bireylerin sürdürülebilir gıda tüketiminde çevre bilgisinin etkili olduğu düşünülmektedir. Çevresel bilgi kişinin doğa, çevre ve mevcut çevre durumları ve sorunlarının nedenleri ile olası etkileri gibi konular hakkındaki bilgi anlayışıdır. Bireylerin çevre sorunları ve olası çevresel tehlikeler konusunda duydukları endişe düzeyi ise çevresel kaygı olarak kavramsallaşmıştır. Bu kavramlar ışığında bireylerin tüketim tercihlerinde çevreye daha az zarar verdiği bilinen/düşünülen davranışlara yöneldiği, çevresel tüketimin çevre bilinci ile ilişkili olduğu görülmektedir. Çevre bilgisi ve çevresel kaygıların çevreye duyarlı gıda tercihleri üzerindeki etkisini incelemeyi amaçlayan bu çalışmada; örneklemi oluşturan Gastronomi ve Mutfak Sanatları lisans öğrencilerinin çevre bilgisi arttıkça çevreye duyarlı gıda tercihinin de arttığı görülmüştür. Çevresel bilgisi arttıkça çevresel kaygılar da artmakta ancak bu çevresel kaygılar çevreye duyarlı gıda tercihine etkisi bulunmamaktadır. Çevre bilgisi, çevreye duyarlı gıda seçimlerini artırdığından bireylerde çevresel bilincin oluşması sadece gıda seçimlerinde değil tüm tüketim tercihlerinde çevre dostu yaklaşım ile olumlu sonuçlar doğuracaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çevre bilgisi
• Çevresel kaygılar
• Çevreye duyarlı gıda seçimi
• Gastronomi öğrencileri

Kaynakça

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