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Foods
Special Issues
The Food Perspective: Understanding the Drivers of Consumer Food Choices
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The Food Perspective: Understanding the Drivers of Consumer Food Choices

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensory and Consumer Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 2184

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jiping Sheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Interests: food economy and management; food nutrition and safety management; novel food consumption; food consumption choice; food intervention experiments
Prof. Dr. Alessandra Guidi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: food safety; food culture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Man Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Interests: food policy analysis; health economics (obesity); interdisciplinary study of food; nutrition and health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the increasingly complex global food system, consumer food choices have become a core force driving the shape of the food industry chain, resource efficiency, and environmental impact. This selection behavior is influenced by the following multidimensional factors: it is rooted in socio-cultural traditions and household habits; linked to the pursuit of nutritional health and personal well-being; related to trust in food safety and quality; and increasingly shaped by the new consumption environment constructed through food labeling information and digital-intelligent platforms (e.g., e-commerce, dietary apps).

Understanding these intertwined driving factors is crucial for systematically reducing food loss and waste and promoting sustainable supply chain development. This thematic focus, "Consumer Drivers of Food Choice," aims to solicit innovative research from interdisciplinary perspectives on the underlying motivations of consumer behavior, the influence of external environments, and effective intervention strategies. The goal is to provide empirical evidence and solutions for building a healthy, sustainable, resilient, and trustworthy food future.

Prof. Dr. Jiping Sheng
Prof. Dr. Alessandra Guidi
Dr. Man Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • food safety
  • willingness to pay
  • food choice behavior
  • food marketing and labeling
  • social and cultural influences
  • nutrition and health
  • digital food tracking
  • perception of food quality
  • behavioral interventions
  • food policy and governance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 1580 KB  
Article
Exploring Drivers of Children’s Food Choices: A Multi-Source Process Evaluation of a School-Based Nutrition Education Program
by Mariusz Jaworski
Foods 2026, 15(11), 1832; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15111832 - 22 May 2026
Viewed by 259
Abstract
Children’s food choices are shaped early in life through cognitive, social, and environmental influences, yet relatively little is known about how school-based nutrition education supports these processes in routine settings. This study examined mechanisms potentially relevant to children’s food choices using a multi-source [...] Read more.
Children’s food choices are shaped early in life through cognitive, social, and environmental influences, yet relatively little is known about how school-based nutrition education supports these processes in routine settings. This study examined mechanisms potentially relevant to children’s food choices using a multi-source process evaluation of the municipal “I Know What I Eat” program implemented in Warsaw primary schools. A prospective observational implementation study was conducted in 81 public schools, covering 198 workshop cycles for students aged 8–9 years. Data were obtained from teacher-observers (n = 198), trained program implementers (n = 6), and implementation records. The evaluation focused on implementation quality, fidelity, acceptability, and mechanisms relevant to food-related decision-making. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Spearman correlations; qualitative comments were examined using content analysis. The program was implemented with high quality and consistency, with mean ratings ranging from 4.88 to 4.96 on a five-point scale and no significant differences by implementer or class size. Qualitative findings indicated that experiential learning, practical food preparation, peer interaction, and active participation supported children’s engagement. These findings suggest that school-based nutrition education can create conditions relevant to food-related decision-making, although direct behavioral measures are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Food Perspective: Understanding the Drivers of Consumer Food Choices)
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21 pages, 587 KB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of Social and Psychological Factors on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Low-Carbon Beef: Evidence from Urban China
by Jiajie Li, Yingying Lin and Xinyu Bai
Foods 2026, 15(6), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15061023 - 15 Mar 2026
Viewed by 393
Abstract
Reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across beef production raises critical questions about consumers’ acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for low-carbon beef. As a purely environmental attribute, low-carbon choices are often driven by social and psychological motivations rather than direct personal benefit. [...] Read more.
Reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across beef production raises critical questions about consumers’ acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for low-carbon beef. As a purely environmental attribute, low-carbon choices are often driven by social and psychological motivations rather than direct personal benefit. This study aims to identify how the social and psychological factors of warm glow feelings, protest beliefs, and social norms influence Chinese urban consumers’ WTP for low-carbon beef. Utilizing survey data from 760 consumers in Beijing, we employed both the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (CVM) and the inferred valuation method (IVM) to assess consumers’ own WTP and inferred WTP for low-carbon beef. The results showed that urban Chinese consumers generally indicated a willingness to pay a premium for low-carbon beef with mean own and inferred WTP values at RMB 47 and RMB 45.29 per 500 g, representing premium rates of 17.49% and 13.23%, respectively. Consumers’ warm glow feelings, protest beliefs, and social norms significantly influenced their own WTP for low-carbon beef, whereas their inferred WTP was mainly affected by social norms. Consumers’ environmental concern had no statistically significant effect on either own WTP or inferred WTP. Policymakers should frame low-carbon beef consumption as a source of personal psychological benefit, mandate transparency regarding the allocation of premium payments of low-carbon beef and establish low-carbon consumption role models within communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Food Perspective: Understanding the Drivers of Consumer Food Choices)
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17 pages, 496 KB  
Article
Food Safety Perception of the Korean Food Delivery App Users, and Antecedents and Consequences of Trust: Moderating Impact of Hygiene
by Myungken Song, Min Gyung Kim and Joonho Moon
Foods 2026, 15(5), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15050949 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 605
Abstract
Food safety can be regarded as a critical aspect of consumer protection, and there is a clear need for related research within the context of food delivery apps. In addition, food safety is a multidimensional concept, and its definition may vary depending on [...] Read more.
Food safety can be regarded as a critical aspect of consumer protection, and there is a clear need for related research within the context of food delivery apps. In addition, food safety is a multidimensional concept, and its definition may vary depending on the specific context in which it is examined. Therefore, this work investigates food safety in the case of food delivery apps from the perspective of consumers in the Korean market. Food safety was conceptualized through four sub-dimensions: food healthiness, eco-friendly packaging, review information, and hygiene. The study examined the effects of these four factors on trust in food delivery apps and the influence of trust on continuance intention. Also, this work inspects the moderating role of hygiene in the relationship between trust and continuance intention. The survey participants were recruited via an online survey conducted through a professional research firm, yielding 300 valid responses. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and Hayes’ Process Macro Model 1. The results show that trust is positively influenced by eco-friendly packaging, review information, and hygiene. Additionally, trust significantly affects continuance intention, with hygiene demonstrating a significant moderating effect. This research contributes to the literature by clarifying the definition of food safety in food delivery apps and elucidating the relationships among its key sub-dimensions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Food Perspective: Understanding the Drivers of Consumer Food Choices)
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Other

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42 pages, 10596 KB  
Systematic Review
Measurement and Modeling of Sustainable Food Choice and Purchasing Behavior: A Systematic Review of Methods and Models
by Tiago Negrão Andrade and Helena Maria André Bolini
Foods 2026, 15(8), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15081442 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 497
Abstract
Despite decades of methodological sophistication, research on sustainable food behavior remains critically limited in predicting actual purchases. This study aims to examine how methodological fragmentation across psychometric, econometric, and behavioral approaches affects the predictive validity of sustainable food choice and purchasing behavior. This [...] Read more.
Despite decades of methodological sophistication, research on sustainable food behavior remains critically limited in predicting actual purchases. This study aims to examine how methodological fragmentation across psychometric, econometric, and behavioral approaches affects the predictive validity of sustainable food choice and purchasing behavior. This integrative systematic review of 62 empirical studies across psychometric validation, discrete choice experiments (DCEs), trust and cognitive biases, and objective behavioral measurement diagnoses the structural disarticulation between these traditions as the primary cause of limited predictive validity. Findings reveal a pronounced inversion of the evidence hierarchy: while self-report studies report moderate attitude–behavior correlations (β ≈ 0.40–0.50, self-report), the only long-term study using objective scanner data demonstrates that this relationship collapses to a virtually null effect (β = 0.022), representing a 95.6% decay in predictive capacity. Psychometric instruments demonstrate strong structural validity but lack ecological validation against actual purchases. DCEs have evolved econometrically (from MNL to GMNL models), yet remain isolated from psychological theory and real-world validation. Critically, no reviewed study integrated validated scales, a DCE, and objective behavioral data within a single design. Key moderators—skepticism, halo effects, and affective heuristics—are systematically underoperationalized. To overcome this impasse, we propose Hybrid Choice Models (HCM) as the central tool to formally articulate latent attitudes, stated preferences, and observed behavior, enabling cumulative evidence to inform policy and market strategies with greater predictive accuracy. These findings indicate that predictive advances depend on integrating measurement paradigms to achieve ecologically valid and policy-relevant models of sustainable consumer behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Food Perspective: Understanding the Drivers of Consumer Food Choices)
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