Young adults may lack management behaviors to prevent food waste
Recent research has shown that young adults have a higher tendency to waste food compared to other age groups. Researchers at the University of Illinois (U of I) wanted to get a better idea why this age group, especially those who are college students, are such high food wasters and how their residence type—on or off campus—plays a role.
Recent research has shown that young adults have a higher tendency to waste food compared to other age groups. Researchers at the University of Illinois (U of I) wanted to get a better idea why this age group, especially those who are college students, are such high food wasters and how their residence type—on or off campus—plays a role. Findings from the study, published in the journal Appetite, show that during the transitionary time of young adulthood, many of the food management behaviors that might prevent food waste haven’t been learned yet or haven’t been necessary.
The researchers conducted focus groups with young adults aged 18–24 to find out more about their perceptions about food waste and their personal behaviors. Most of the participants were college students, some living on campus with access to university dining halls, and others living off campus.
The researchers found that there were differences in perceptions and behaviors between participants who lived on campus or off campus. “The way we will need to intervene to reduce wasted food will be different based on what young adults have access to,” said Cassandra Nikolaus, doctoral candidate in food science and human nutrition at U of I and lead author of the study.
A major theme that emerged was a sense of apathy about food waste, or the tendency to deflect. Many participants were not even aware of how much food is wasted, for example, in a university dining hall. If college students have eaten all their meals in all-you-can-eat university dining halls, for example, they may have not yet learned how to plan and grocery shop for meals. Other constraints like transportation and environment—maybe no access to a refrigerator to store leftovers—may also contribute.
Nikolaus said another important finding was that many of the young adults in the study didn’t see their personal food-wasting behaviors as part of the overall problem of food loss and waste in the United States, nor did they think changing their behavior could help the problem.
The researchers believe that the results from the study can inform strategies to help young adults be more aware of food waste and adopt better food management behaviors.