Food consumption and the Covid-19 pandemic: The role of sustainability in purchasing choices

Giuseppe Timpanaro; Giulio Cascone

doi:10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100385

Food consumption and the Covid-19 pandemic: The role of sustainability in purchasing choices

J Agric Food Res. 2022 Dec:10:100385. doi: 10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100385. Epub 2022 Sep 17.

Authors

Giuseppe Timpanaro¹, Giulio Cascone²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 100, 95123, Catania, Italy.
² Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy.

Abstract

The paper addresses the consumption issue in the post-Covid-19 pandemic era, finding a possible interpretative model in the theory of planned behaviour. To this end, a sample was selected, and multivariate statistical analysis showed that the aspects of sustainability, health and well-living represent possible keys to understanding purchasing and consumption behaviour in the recovery and return to "normality". The mass media, the advice of experts, and the optimism of small things (from an emotional and social point of view) also have a correlated effect on the purchase of food, health and the environment, as well as production methods, origin and supply chain, packaging and ethical and social responsibility, in line with the much desired ecological transition.

Keywords: Consumer behaviour; Health; Organic; Origin; Planned behaviour theory.