Analysis of housewives’ knowledge levels and behaviors toward food waste and sustainable nutrition

Abstract

This article aims to reveal the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of housewives living in Turkiye about food waste and sustainable nutrition. This study was conducted with 90 housewives between the ages of 25-65 from Turkey using the survey method. According to the research results; 24% of the participants stated that they waste food, while 53% stated that they do it sometimes. A significant positive correlation was found between education level and red meat and meat products, milk and dairy products and egg waste (p<0.05). Sustainable nutrition knowledge scores of the participants were found to be insufficient, with an average of 22.54 ± 3.80. A positive correlation was found between the amount of protein and zinc intake and the level of sustainable nutrition knowledge (p=0,027, r=0,233 and p=0,033, r=0,225). A significant and positive relationship was found between the scores of the participants in the scale of sustainable nutrition and healthy eating behaviors and their age (p=0,040, r=0,220). It has been determined that the knowledge levels of housewives about sustainable nutrition are deficient and insufficient. The issues of food waste and sustainable nutrition gain importance in terms of raising awareness and taking precautions for today and future generations, both economically and socioculturally.