Ethnic Food Consumption in Italy: The Role of Food Neophobia and Openness to Different Cultures
Giulia Mascarello, Anna Pinto, Valentina Rizzoli, Barbara Tiozzo, Stefania Crovato, Licia Ravarotto
Foods
Abstract
While the ethnic food market has become increasingly important in Italy, the effects of the hybridization of consumption patterns have been slowed by a consolidated culinary tradition. This study investigates the relationships among ethnic food consumption, food neophobia, and openness to different cultures with sociodemographic characteristics. A sample of 1317 Italian consumers responded to an online survey. The sociodemographic profile of the neophobic consumer appears to substantially differ from that of the consumer with an attitude of openness. Neophobic respondents are males, are older than 55 years of age, are less educated, have children, are retired, have difficulty meeting their financial responsibilities, and do not eat ethnic food. Respondents who are more open to different cultures are young adults, are highly educated, have no children, are employed, and are consumers of ethnic food. The relationship between food neophobia and openness to different cultures is confirmed to be the relationship between these variables and ethnic food consumption. The measurement of these characteristics could serve as a crucial indicator for analyzing the willingness to accept elements of novelty in an increasingly multicultural society. Additionally, consumers with the neophobic trait and who are less open to different cultures might have a less varied diet that is essential to good health.
Extracted Claims
3 claims extracted from this paper into the knowledge graph
consumers with openness to different cultures are characterized by young age, high education, no children, employment, and consumption of ethnic food
“Respondents who are more open to different cultures are young adults, are highly educated, have no children, are employed, and are consumers of ethnic food.”
neophobic consumers are characterized by older age, less education, having children, being retired, financial difficulties, and not eating ethnic food
“Neophobic respondents are males, are older than 55 years of age, are less educated, have children, are retired, have difficulty meeting their financial responsibilities, and do not eat ethnic food.”
ethnic food consumption is influenced by food neophobia and openness to different cultures
“This study investigates the relationships among ethnic food consumption, food neophobia, and openness to different cultures with sociodemographic characteristics.”