Perspectives of Young Adults in The United Kingdom on Fast Food

Öz

With globalisation, consumer food preferences are shifting from home-cooked meals to ready-to-eat foods, leading to various health issues, including obesity. This study aims to examine the attitudes of young adults living in the United Kingdom towards fast food products (particularly a prominent international fast food chain) and their views on the health effects of these foods. Although many studies have been conducted on fast food products, relatively few have specifically focused on an international fast food chain. Additionally, there is a lack of sufficient research in the literature regarding fast food-related waste. This research will also explore young adults' attitudes towards food waste resulting from fast food consumption. An online survey was conducted with a total of 104 young adult participants, aged 18 to 36, who met the study criteria and were selected using a 'convenience sampling' method. The study revealed that an international fast food chain is the most preferred fast food restaurant brand among young adults compared to other fast food restaurants. While the majority of young adult participants believe that fast food has harmful effects on health, they still prefer these foods for reasons such as fast service, affordability, and widespread availability. When investigating food waste, more than half of the male and female participants indicated that they take home food they could not finish at restaurants and consume it later. Although many alternatives are available for managing food waste, some participants expressed the belief that such food should be thrown away.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• fast food
• globalisation
• The United Kingdom
• food waste
• health problems

Birleşik Krallık'taki Genç Yetişkinlerin Fast Food’a Bakış Açıları

Öz

Küreselleşmeyle birlikte tüketicilerin gıda tercihleri ev yapımı yemeklerden hazır gıdalara doğru kaymakta ve bu durum obezite gibi çeşitli sağlık sorunlarını beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu çalışma, Birleşik Krallık'ta yaşayan genç yetişkinlerin fast food ürünlerine (özellikle tanınmış bir uluslararası fast food zinciri) yönelik tutumlarını ve bu gıdaların sağlık üzerindeki etkilerine ilişkin görüşlerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Fast food ürünleri üzerine birçok çalışma yapılmış olmasına rağmen, özellikle bu uluslararası fast food zinciri ürünleri üzerine nispeten az sayıda çalışma bulunmaktadır. Ayrıca, fast food kaynaklı atıklarla ilgili literatürde yeterli araştırma bulunmamaktadır. Bu araştırma, genç yetişkinlerin fast food tüketiminden kaynaklanan gıda israfına yönelik tutumlarını da inceleyecektir. Çalışma kriterlerini karşılayan ve 'kolayda örnekleme' yöntemiyle seçilen, yaşları 18 ile 36 arasında değişen toplam 104 genç yetişkin katılımcıyla çevrimiçi bir anket gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma, bu uluslararası fast food zincirinin diğer fast food restoranlarına kıyasla genç yetişkinler arasında en çok tercih edilen fast food restoran markası olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Genç yetişkin katılımcıların çoğunluğu fast food'un sağlığa zararlı etkileri olduğunu düşünse de, hızlı servis, uygun fiyat ve yaygın erişilebilirlik gibi nedenlerle bu yiyecekleri tercih etmektedirler. Gıda israfını araştırırken, erkek ve kadın katılımcıların yarısından fazlası restoranlarda bitiremedikleri yiyecekleri evlerine götürdüklerini ve daha sonra tükettiklerini belirtmiştir. Gıda atıklarının yönetimi için birçok alternatif mevcut olmasına rağmen, bazı katılımcılar bu tür yiyeceklerin çöpe atılması gerektiğine inandıklarını ifade etmişlerdir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• fast food
• küreselleşme
• Birleşik Krallık
• gıda israfı
• sağlık sorunları

Kaynakça

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