학술논문

Exploring sustainable food choices among adults in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study
Document Type
article
Source
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Vol 7 (2023)
Subject
sustainable diets
sustainability
animal-based
plant-based
consumer behavior
dietary behavior
Nutrition. Foods and food supply
TX341-641
Food processing and manufacture
TP368-456
Language
English
ISSN
2571-581X
Abstract
IntroductionDietary choices serve as a vital and ongoing link between environmental sustainability and human health. This study aimed to assess the consumption behavior of people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concerning sustainability and determine factors that contribute to sustainable food choices.MethodsA cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among adults in the UAE (n = 1,113). Data on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes toward sustainable food choices, and reasons behind sustainable food choices were collected. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA tests were used to investigate the differences in the level of agreement to nine statements about sustainable food choices among different sociodemographic groups on a scale of 1–5 ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Participants’ responses to open-ended questions were filtered and clustered into eight different categories and presented as counts and percentages.Results and discussionParticipants agreed on trying new healthy and environmentally friendly foodstuff (3.57 ± 1.04). Females (p = 0.002) and older adults (>50 years; p = 0.001) showed higher agreement with avoiding red meat. Older participants, and those with higher education (p = 0.020 and p