Public interest in food sustainability: an infodemiology study of Google trends data in Europe from 2010–2021

Carlos Portugal-Nunes; Fernando M. Nunes; Cristina Saraiva; Carla Gonçalves

doi:10.1080/09637486.2022.2151988

Public interest in food sustainability: an infodemiology study of Google trends data in Europe from 2010–2021

Carlos Portugal-Nunes, Fernando M. Nunes, Cristina Saraiva, Carla Gonçalves

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Understanding food sustainability and healthy diets public awareness is of utmost importance since consumers are the main drivers of global consumption patterns. Using Google Trends data, from 2010 to 2021, we aim to explore the temporal dynamics of food sustainability public interest across Europe and its association with interest in sustainability, healthy diet, Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), and flexitarianism. Public interest in food sustainability has increased and is positively associated with the interest in the topic of sustainability. With few exceptions, no general association between food sustainability and healthy diet or MedDiet interest were found. Consistent associations between food sustainability and flexitarianism were found across most of the European regions and countries. Despite the growing interest, only flexitarianism seems to be associated with food sustainability. Understanding consumers’ interest in food sustainability is crucial for the transition towards healthy and sustainable diets and to define educational and behavioural interventions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	95-106
Number of pages	12
Journal	International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
Volume	74
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2022.2151988
Publication status	Published - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Funding

This work was supported by the AgriFood XXI project (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000041) co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through NORTE 2020 and by the project UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The CQ-VR is supported by FCT UIDB/00616/2020 and UIDP/00616/2020. The CITAB is supported by FCT/UIDB/04033/2020. The participation of CP-N and CS were supported by the projects UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020 funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). This work was also supported by European Commission.

Funders	Funder number
European Commission
FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia	UIDB/00616/2020, FCT/UIDB/04033/2020, LA/P/0059/2020, UIDP/00616/2020
European Regional Development Fund	UIDB/CVT/00772/2020

Keywords

Google trends
Mediterranean diet
Sustainability
flexitarianism
food sustainability
healthy diet

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/09637486.2022.2151988

Cite this

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abstract = "Understanding food sustainability and healthy diets public awareness is of utmost importance since consumers are the main drivers of global consumption patterns. Using Google Trends data, from 2010 to 2021, we aim to explore the temporal dynamics of food sustainability public interest across Europe and its association with interest in sustainability, healthy diet, Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), and flexitarianism. Public interest in food sustainability has increased and is positively associated with the interest in the topic of sustainability. With few exceptions, no general association between food sustainability and healthy diet or MedDiet interest were found. Consistent associations between food sustainability and flexitarianism were found across most of the European regions and countries. Despite the growing interest, only flexitarianism seems to be associated with food sustainability. Understanding consumers{\textquoteright} interest in food sustainability is crucial for the transition towards healthy and sustainable diets and to define educational and behavioural interventions.",

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Public interest in food sustainability: an infodemiology study of Google trends data in Europe from 2010–2021

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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