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COVID-19 Changes Public Awareness about Food Sustainability and Dietary Patterns: A Google Trends Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected healthcare systems and global economies but also directly impacted food security and purchasing behaviors. The aim of this study is to investigate if COVID-19 has induced changes in public interest regarding Food Sustainability and healthy-sustainable dietary patterns across Europe and in European regions. A Google Trends search was performed using the search terms “Food Sustainability + Sustainable Diet + Sustainable Food” (grouped as “Food Sustainability”) and the topics “Sustainability”, “Healthy Diet”, “Mediterranean Diet”, and “Flexitarianism” for the years 2010 to 2022. Data were obtained for 12 countries in Europe. The trends in interest after the COVID-19 outbreak were forecast based on previous data. After the COVID-19 outbreak, an increase in Food Sustainability interest was observed and was higher than forecast based on the previous data. A significant interest increase in Sustainability was observed; nevertheless, this increase was smaller than the forecast increase. Mixed results were obtained for dietary patterns across European regions, yet, considering the mean interest for Europe, it seems that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak dampened the interest in dietary patterns such as the Healthy Diet and Flexitarianism and promoted an interest in the Mediterranean Diet. Understanding consumers’ beliefs and behaviors toward food choices is crucial for the transition towards sustainable diets, and definitions of educational and behavioral interventions are essential to this transition.
- Universidade Lusófona Portugal
- Universidade do Porto Portugal
- Universidade Lusófona do Porto Portugal
- University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Portugal
- Universidade do Porto Portugal
Google trends, Nutrition. Foods and food supply, healthy diet, COVID-19, food sustainability; sustainability; healthy diet; Mediterranean diet; flexitarianism; Google trends, sustainability, Diet, Mediterranean, Article, Search Engine, Food, Mediterranean diet, Humans, flexitarianism, TX341-641, food sustainability, Pandemics
Google trends, Nutrition. Foods and food supply, healthy diet, COVID-19, food sustainability; sustainability; healthy diet; Mediterranean diet; flexitarianism; Google trends, sustainability, Diet, Mediterranean, Article, Search Engine, Food, Mediterranean diet, Humans, flexitarianism, TX341-641, food sustainability, Pandemics
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).6 popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10% influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).Average impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10%
