An approach on food choice determinants: a study in the restaurants of a public market in Northeastern Brazil
Abordagem sobre determinantes de escolha alimentar: um estudo nos restaurantes de um mercado público do Nordeste do Brasil
Rev. Nutr. (Online); 33 (), 2020
Publication year: 2020
ABSTRACT Objective To identify the main determinants of food consumption among adult users of a public market in a capital of Northeastern Brazil. Methods A total of 198 diners in a public market, constituting a sample comprising 149 males and 49 females over 19 years of age, was interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaires from August 2018 to January 2019. Sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, place of origin, education and income, in addition to the determinants of food choices were evaluated. The analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test (nonparametric) that compared the means of the dimensions involved in these choices according to gender and income. Results Sensory appeal, price and health were the main determinants of food choices. When compared by gender and income, there were significant differences regarding the attributes reviewed.
Conclusion The factors that influenced food choice were:
sensory appeal, price and health. Ethical issues were the ones that least interfered with food choice. Thus, such aspects must be taken into account for the development of public policies in the area of collective eating and environmental education.The factors that influenced food choice were:
sensory appeal, price and health. Ethical issues were the ones that least interfered with food choice. Thus, such aspects must be taken into account for the development of public policies in the area of collective eating and environmental education.
RESUMO Objetivo Identificar os principais determinantes do consumo alimentar entre adultos usuários de um mercado público de uma capital do nordeste brasileiro. Métodos Foram entrevistados, por intermédio de questionários pré-testados, nos meses de agosto de 2018 até janeiro de 2019, uma amostra de 198 comensais de um mercado público, constituída por 149 indivíduos do sexo masculino e 49 do sexo feminino maiores de 19 anos. Foram avaliadas variáveis sociodemográficas como sexo, idade, local de origem, escolaridade e renda, além dos determinantes das escolhas alimentares. A análise foi feita utilizando o teste de Wilcoxon (não paramétrico), que comparou as médias das dimensões envolvidas nessas escolhas conforme sexo e renda. Resultados Apelo sensorial, preço e saúde foram os principais determinantes das escolhas alimentares. Quando comparados por sexo e renda, houve diferenças significativas quanto aos atributos analisados.