Cited by 329Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental ImpactNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorConsumer Attitudes and Food Labeling

Shrinking the food-print: a qualitative study into consumer perceptions, experiences and attitudes towards healthy and environmentally friendly food behaviours

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Hoek, A.C., Pearson, D., James, S.W., Lawrence, M.A., Friel, S.·2017·Appetite

Abstract

Internationally, there is increasing recognition of the importance of multilevel policies and actions that address healthy and environmentally friendly food behaviours. However it is not yet clear which actions are most suitable to support consumers to adopt both behaviours concurrently. To this end, we undertook a qualitative study to assess consumer perceptions, experiences and attitudes towards healthy and environmentally friendly foods and four target behaviours: reducing overconsumption of food beyond energy needs, reducing consumption of low-nutrient energy dense foods, eating less animal- and more plant-derived foods, and reducing food waste. Online in-depth interviews were held with 29 Australian food shoppers representing different levels of involvement with health and environment in daily food choices. The results indicate that compared to health, the relationship between food and the environment is rarely considered by consumers. The four target food behaviours were primarily associated and motivated by an impact on health, except for not wasting foods. Participants had the most positive attitude and highest motivation for eating less processed and packaged foods, mostly to avoid excessive packaging and 'chemicals' in foods. This was followed by the behaviours reducing food waste and overconsumption. Conversely, there was a predominantly negative attitude towards, and low motivation for, eating less animal-derived products and more plant based foods. Overall, consumers found a joined concept of healthy and environmentally friendly foods an acceptable idea. We recommend that health should remain the overarching principle for policies and actions concerned with shifting consumer behaviours, as this personal benefit appears to have a greater potential to support behaviour change. Future consumer focused work could pay attention to framing behavioural messages, providing intermediate behavioural goals, and a multiple target approach to change habitual behaviours.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.030

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  • Some respondents experience an inner conflict that revolves around finishing all the food provided on their plate to reduce food waste on the one hand, and avoiding eating too much to maintain a healthy, slim body on the other hand.

    “Furthermore, some respondents experience an inner conflict that revolves around finishing all the food provided on their plate to reduce food waste on the one hand, and avoiding eating too much to maintain a healthy, slim body on the other hand (Hoek et al., 2017;Pearson et al., 2016).”

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Authors
Hoek, A. C., Pearson, D., James, S. W., Lawrence, M. A., & Friel, S.
Affiliations
  • University of Canberra (AU)
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • Deakin University (AU)
Corresponding author
Pearson, D.
Venue
Appetite
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-01
Volume
108
Pages
117-131
ISSN
0195-6663 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2524428226
Cited by
329
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 1
FWCI
17.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Appetite (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Acquire (CQUniversity) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP130102820)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
Keywords
environmentally friendly food, consumer perception, consumer attitudes, food waste reduction, overconsumption, energy-dense foods, plant-based diet, animal products, food packaging, behavior change
MeSH terms
Diet, Healthy, Adolescent, Adult, Australia, Conservation of Natural Resources, Consumer Behavior, Diet Surveys, Female, Food Additives, Food Preferences, Food Supply, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Food Packaging, Internet, Qualitative Research, Young Adult, Carbon Footprint, Social Participation

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