The Effects of Healthy Nutrition Perception and Food Neophobia on Behavioral Intentions towards Edible Insect Products
Abstract
When we visualize insects in our minds; an image appears about creatures that harm our food and drinks, cause economic and health problems, create negative senses like fear, disgust and shiver. According to many people, insects are living creatures which are needed to be eliminated. Yet, nature is not agreeing with those people. It is correct that insects cause many harmful effects but scientists state harmful insects are only %2-3 of a bigger insect’s family which involves 1.500.000 species. These results show an only a minor portion of insects are harmful, and other ones either helpful or neutral. Insects are important creatures for balance of nutrition and energy connection. Besides being consumed as an important source of foo, insects are also helpful for the food production which results in helping other creatures as well. In this study, it is thought that healthy food perception and food neophobia are effective for the consumption of products based on edible insects. In this respect, analyzes were made on gastronomic communities for these products. According to the results of the analysis, it was found that healthy nutrition perception had a significant and positive effect on neophobia. In addition, while neophobia attitudes of consumers had a significant and negative effect on behavioral intention towards edible insect consumption, it was observed that healthy nutrition attitude had no significant effect on behavioral intention towards edible insect consumption. In conclusion, it is seen that general health perception have a positive influence on food neophobia and food neophobia have negative effect on behavioral intentions.
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Kaynakça
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