Characteristics and Motivations of Consumers of Direct Purchasing Channels and the Perceived Barriers to Alternative Food Purchase: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Ecuadorian Andes

Modern food systems generate social inequalities in the access to healthy food, but some families maintain behaviors that provide an alternative to these systems. Agroecological consumers (ACs) and non-agroecological direct market consumers (DMCs) are key actors in alternative food systems. We assessed the characteristics of ACs and DMCs using data from a representative sample of households in Ibarra, Quito and Riobamba (n = 2914). We also deepened the exploration of motivations for adopting these practices through mini-ethnographies with families who were identified as ACs or DMCs (n = 15). We found motivations related to personal health problems, food quality (e.g., taste, freshness), and safety (e.g., avoiding pesticides) to be key. Other motivations were price and community solidarity with farmers. Barriers included inconvenience, lack of awareness, and insecurity of market location. Using Chi-square tests, we found differences between ACs and DMCs on place of residence, education, employment, health, and diet. Controlling for socioeconomic and health variables using logistic regressions, we found DMC dietary habits to be similar to the remainder of the study population, except that they were less likely to eat processed foods less frequently (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4–0.9). In contrast, ACs were more likely than the remainder of the study population to control their salt intake (3.2, 1.9–5.2) and have greater knowledge of nutrition labels (2.8, 1.7–4.6). They were more likely to eat traditional foods frequently (1.9, 1.1–3.3), fruit and vegetables daily (1.6, 1.0–2.8), and processed foods less frequently (2.7, 1.5–4.8). Hence, these two types of alternative food provisioning practices (AC and DMC) were adopted by different types of consumers, with heterogenous motivations and food consumption practices. These findings have implications for public health initiatives aiming to scale up the nutrition and ecological potential of alternative food systems.

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Collaborative institutional work to generate alternative food systems

Organization ◽

10.1177/1350508419883385 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 314-336

Author(s):

Sophie Michel

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Local Level ◽

Institutional Analysis ◽

Scale Up ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Institutional Work ◽

Alternative Food Systems ◽

Global Food System ◽

Global Food

Recently, there has been a proliferation of alternatives to the global food system. Yet, there is still an ongoing debate on their potential to transform the food system and challenge its globalization. This research introduces institutional analysis to the food system literature in order to comprehend actors’ efforts to scale up alternatives and transform the food system at the local level. Such efforts are explored from an inductive research of the organization called M-Local Food Project, which gathers a range of diverse actors to work on expanding alternative food and transforming the food system in eastern France. Based on this organization’s analysis and its collaborative institutional work, this research highlights how to organize collective agency from the collaboration of multiple actors to co-build an alternative food system and extends the debate on alternative food potential to challenge the dominant global food system. It also provides an emerging model of collaborative institutional work that enriches the institutional analysis on the coalition for institutional changes and offers practical advice on tensions for alternative organizations that cannot be overcome.

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Alternative Agri-Food Systems Under a Market Agencements Approach: The Case of Multifunctional Farming Activity in a Peri-Urban Area

Environments ◽

10.3390/environments8070061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Maria Cecilia Mancini ◽

Filippo Arfini ◽

Federico Antonioli ◽

Marianna Guareschi

Keyword(s):

Urban Area ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Large Body ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Design Stage ◽

Alternative Food Networks ◽

Alternative Food Systems ◽

Design And Implementation ◽

Trade Offs

(1) Background: A large body of literature is available on the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of alternative food systems, but not much of it is devoted to the dynamics underlying their design and implementation, more specifically the processes that make an alternative food system successful or not in terms of its sustainability aims. This gap seems to be particularly critical in studies concerning alternative food systems in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA). This paper explores how the design and implementation of multifunctional farming activity in a peri-urban area surrounding the city of Reggio Emilia in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy impact the achievement of its sustainability aims. (2) Methods: The environmental, social, and economic components of this project are explored in light of the sociology of market agencements. This method brings up the motivations of the human entities involved in the project, the role played by nonhuman entities, and the technical devices used for the fulfillment of the project’s aims. (3) Results: The alternative food system under study lacked a robust design phase and a shared definition of the project aims among all the stakeholders involved. This ended in a substantial mismatch between project aims and consumer expectations. (4) Conclusions: When a comprehensive design stage is neglected, the threefold aim concerning sustainability might not be achievable. In particular, the design of alternative food systems must take into account the social environment where it is intended to be put in place, especially in UPA, where consumers often live in suburban neighborhoods wherein the sense of community is not strong, thus preventing them from getting involved in a community-based project. In such cases, hybridization can play a role in the sustainability of alternative food networks, provided that some trade-offs occur among the different components of sustainability—some components of sustainability will be fully achieved, while others will not.

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Dietary Intake and Lifestyle Habits of Children Aged 10–12 Years Enrolled in the School Lunch Program in Greece: A Cross Sectional Analysis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13020493 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 493

Author(s):

Olga Malisova ◽

Antonis Vlassopoulos ◽

Aikaterini Kandyliari ◽

Evaggelia Panagodimou ◽

Maria Kapsokefalou

Keyword(s):

Dietary Intake ◽

Screen Time ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

School Lunch ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Lifestyle Habits ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Lunch Program ◽

Lunch Program

School Lunch programs are a common strategy to address social inequalities in food access among children, especially food insecurity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake and lifestyle habits of children aged 10–12 years enrolled in the School Lunch Program in Greece. A cross-sectional survey of fifth and sixth grade students, School Lunch recipients (n = 609) and control subjects (n = 736), collected data on sociodemographic, nutritional and lifestyle habits via self-reported questionnaires during May–October 2019. Despite enrollment in the School Lunch Program children in this group reported consuming less meals during the day (3.47 ± 1.38 vs. 3.65 ± 1.35, p = 0.002). No differences were seen in intakes of energy and macronutrients, however School Lunch recipients reported lower intakes of cereals/potatoes and legumes but higher fruit intake (2.32 ± 1.59 vs. 1.97 ± 1.72, p < 0.05). School Lunch recipients reported 42min/d and 28min/d higher screen-time during weekdays and weekends, respectively. Linear regression highlighted that dietary quality was not associated with School Lunch enrollment but rather sleep duration and screen time had a stronger influence on dietary habits. Enrollment in a School Lunch Program was linked to sustained differences in sedentary lifestyle habits but less so in dietary habits.

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Alternative Food Systems at Ground Level: The Fairbanks Community Garden

Journal of Ecological Anthropology ◽

10.5038/2162-4593.16.1.6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alison Meadow

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Ground Level ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Community Garden ◽

Alternative Food Systems

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Nonhuman Animal Rights, Alternative Food Systems, and the Non-Profit Industrial Complex

PhaenEx ◽

10.22329/p.v8i2.4093 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 209 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Corey Lee Wrenn

Keyword(s):

Animal Rights ◽

Food Production ◽

Food Systems ◽

Nonhuman Animal ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Industrial Complex ◽

Alternative Food Systems ◽

Non Profit ◽

Alternative Systems ◽

Nonhuman Animals

Alternative food systems (namely the humane product movement) have arisen to address societal concerns with the treatment of Nonhuman Animals in food production. This paper presents an abolitionist Nonhuman Animal rights approach (Francione, 1996) and critiques these alternative systems as problematic in regards to goals of considering the rights or welfare of Nonhuman Animals. It is proposed that the trend in social movement professionalization within the structure of a non-profit industrial complex will ultimately favor compromises like “humane” products over more radical abolitionist solutions to the detriment of Nonhuman Animals. This paper also discusses potential compromises for alternative food systems that acknowledge equal consideration for Nonhuman Animals, focusing on grassroots veganism as a necessary component for consistency and effectiveness.

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Study of prevalence of osteoporosis in males of above 40 years age group attending SMS Hospital, Jaipur

International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics ◽

10.18203/issn.2455-4510.intjresorthop20172883 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 837

Author(s):

Parwez Qureshi ◽

R. C. Meena ◽

Jakir Husain ◽

Gaurav Deshwar ◽

Vineet Maheshwari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Good Control ◽

Age Group ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

T Score ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

Study Population ◽

Prevalence Of Osteoporosis

Background: Whenever osteoporosis is discussed, the focus is on women; men are far less likely to receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fracture because of considerable gaps in knowledge on male osteoporosis. The aim and objectives were to study the prevalence of osteoporosis in males of above 40 year age group attending SMS Hospital Jaipur & to explore the influence of various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors on BMD.Methods: Study Location: SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. Study design: Hospital based cross sectional study. Study period: April 2015 to December 2016. Sample Size: 200. Work up: After taking ethical clearance and informed verbal consent, demographic and clinical details were noted along with S- calcium, Vitamin D and bone mineral density assessment. Osteoporosis was defined as T score ≤−2.5 bone mass −1 to −2.5 and normal as >−1. Data thus collected was analysed with help of SPSS 22.0 through frequency, percentages, Mean, SD and ANOVA.Results: Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in the study population was 28.5% and 11.5%. Age wise maximum prevalence was in the age group 71-80 years (31.81%). Prevalence of osteoporosis was more among Muslim community 20.83%, more in low socio economic group (BPL). T score of study population was -0.3705±1.41. The mean BMI, S-Calcium, Vitamin D levels and T score values among osteopenic and osteoporotic patients were statistically highly significant when compared to patients without osteo-penic/porotic changes (p<0.05).Conclusions: Osteoporosis is a silent killer and prevention is better than cure as prevention requires simple steps such as good dietary habits, active life style, good control of systemic disorders, reduced intake of tobacco and alcohol.

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Introduction

New Food Activism ◽

10.1525/california/9780520292130.003.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alison Hope Alkon ◽

Julie Guthman

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Transformative Change ◽

Political Transformation ◽

Strategic Choices ◽

Alternative Food Systems ◽

Race And Class ◽

To Come ◽

Economic Inequalities

This chapter argues that food activists need to look beyond the politics of their plates to engage with broader questions of racial and economic inequalities, strategy and political transformation. It grounds the examples that follow in two ongoing scholarly debates. The first regards the role of inequalities, particularly of race and class, in shaping past and present industrial and alternative food systems. The second looks to strategies and tactics. While some have argued that the provision of relatively apolitical alternatives to industrial food systems lays the groundwork for transformative change, the editors of this volume urge activists to follow those profiled in this book towards more cooperative, oppositional and collective strategic choices. The introduction ends with an overview of the chapters to come.

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Thinking About Labour in Alternative Food Systems

Imagining Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.4324/9781315587905-5 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 71-86

Author(s):

Yael Levitte

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Alternative Food Systems

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Citizenship and Consumption: Mobilisation in Alternative Food Systems in France

Sociologia Ruralis ◽

10.1111/j.1467-9523.2011.00540.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 304-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Sophie Dubuisson-Quellier ◽

Claire Lamine ◽

Ronan Le Velly

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Alternative Food Systems

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Dietary habits and inadequate control of blood pressure in hypertensive adults assisted by a Brazilian Family Doctor Program

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980011001194 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 2176-2184 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bárbara da Silva Nalin de Souza ◽

Maria Luiza Garcia Rosa ◽

Jocemir R Lugon ◽

Edna Massae Yokoo ◽

Evandro Tinoco Mesquita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Serum Creatinine ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Salt Intake ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Family Doctor ◽

Prevalence Ratio ◽

Skin Colour ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Indirect Measure

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate dietary habits and other factors associated with inadequate blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients adherent to antihypertensive drug treatment assisted by a Brazilian Family Doctor Program (FDP).DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingFDP units, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.SubjectsWe included data from both male and female participants aged ≥20 years. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire containing questions related to demographics, socio-economic factors, comorbidities and lifestyle, as well as a validated FFQ and eleven additional qualitative questions to investigate dietary habits. Food items were divided into sixteen groups. Medical consultations were performed, BP measurements were taken, blood and urine samples were assessed and anthropometric and nutritional status was evaluated.ResultsIndividuals with inadequate BP control presented higher BMI values (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1·027, 95 % CI 1·009, 1·045) and also consumed more meat (PR = 1·091, 95 % CI 1·022, 1·165), which are potentially modifiable variables. Higher levels of serum creatinine (PR = 1·894, 95 % CI 1·241, 2·892) were also associated with inadequate BP control, as were skin colour (white). After inclusion of the Na excretion index, which is an indirect measure of salt intake, a slight decrease was observed in the PR for meat, which resulted in loss of statistical significance.ConclusionsThe results indicate that salt consumption, skin colour, BMI and serum creatinine are associated with inadequate BP control.

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