Aspects Affecting Food Choice in Daily Life as Well as Drivers and Barriers to Engagement with Fungi-Based Food—A Qualitative Perspective

Coralie Hellwig (), Kim Bolton, Greta Häggblom-Kronlöf and Kamran Rousta
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Coralie Hellwig: Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden
Kim Bolton: Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden
Greta Häggblom-Kronlöf: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Section for Health and Rehabilitation, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Kamran Rousta: Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-25

Abstract: Fungi-based food is expected to contribute to more sustainable food systems. The present study has three focus areas: (i) aspects that affect food choices food in daily life, (ii) aspects that affect choices of fungi-based food in particular, and (iii) drivers that motivate, and barriers that prevent, engagement in cultivating fungi and cooking fungi-based food at home. One hundred and sixty participants, who were recruited using convenience sampling, filled out qualitative questionnaires. The results show that there are numerous aspects (e.g., environmental benefits, nutrition, sensory characteristics, production practices and ingredients) that are important when people choose food in daily life. In addition to curiosity, many of these aspects also affect the choice of fungi-based food. The study identified more drivers (e.g., self-providing, curiosity, awareness of ingredients) than barriers (time, knowledge, concerns about contamination) to cultivation and cooking of fungi-based food at home. The findings are relevant for the development of fungi-based food so that this type of food is engaged with, and so that it can contribute to more sustainable food systems.

Keywords: future food; sustainability; sustainable lifestyles; filamentous fungi; fungi-based food; resource recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:317-:d:1014445

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