Browsing by Subject "Food choice"

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Achieving goals of ethical consumption : assessment of target criteria for the comparison of organic and locally purchased products with a modified scoring model
(2015) Derksen, Dirtje Marie
The increasing importance of ethical consumption is reflected through the rising numbers of consumers of ethically certified products. In this context the purchasing of organic products is widely regarded as major approach to consume in line with ethical criteria. However, also local purchasing gains importance for consumers. This study consequently intends to identify ethical consumption goals as related to organic and local purchasing, to reveal differences and commonalities between the two options and to assess the types of relationships that exist between the respective ethical criteria. Therefore, an integrated research review is conducted that aims on the development of a hierarchical framework of ethical consumption goals. The gathered information is furthermore analysed for its applicability in a modified scoring model that assesses the alignment of products and ethical consumption motives of individual consumers. It is revealed that even though consumers perceive a stronger linkage of certain ethical values with either local or organic purchasing, the consumption goals generally overlap and can thus be applied in a common model. However, the purchasing concepts appear to be unclear to consumers and linkages with social and non-ethical criteria increase the confusion and insecurity. Additionally, it is found that relationships between single ethical target criteria are not perceived as relevant and can thus be neglected in the model. Based on these results it is argued that the development of a model that supports purchasing decisions guided by ethical criteria is a viable approach, if it reflects all possible ethical consumption goals and provides sufficient transparency.
Nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and anemia status of lactating mothers in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo - A cross-sectional analysis
(2024) Beitze, Damaris Elisabeth; Kavira Malengera, Céline; Barhwamire Kabesha, Theophile; Scherbaum, Veronika
Maternal nutrition is impacted by personal and environmental factors including dietary intake, knowledge, food availability, and affordability. This cross-sectional analysis aimed to evaluate nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and associations with hemoglobin concentration among lactating mothers in the Bukavu region, Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 444 lactating mothers, nutrition-related knowledge and practice were assessed by questionnaires and translated into knowledge and practice scores ranging from 0 to 1, attitudes and drivers of food choice were assessed, the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was assessed with 24 h dietary recalls in a potential range from 0 to 10, and hemoglobin (Hb) was measured in mothers and their infants. Anemia prevalence was 28.2% among mothers and 74.3% among infants aged 3–8 months. Nutritional knowledge and practice were limited (the median total knowledge score was 0.39, median DDS was 3.0). While there were slight positive correlations between knowledge and maternal Hb, DDS did not significantly correlate with either knowledge or Hb. Although half of the mothers stated a perception about their own susceptibility to anemia or vitamin A deficiency (56.4%, 47.4%), less than half of those could justify their estimation (40.9%, 44.2%). Taste (68.1%), appearance (42.5%), availability (29.0%), and health effects (25.6%) were important drivers of food choice. In conclusion, interventions on the different influencing factors including nutrition education strategies are needed.