Patterns in sustainable food choices and policy support: Novel evidence from nine countries

Résumé

This analysis uses OECD survey data from over 8,000 households in nine countries. The paper analyses household profiles via latent class analysis on the basis of both diet composition, as well as purchasing habits for products that are generally perceived to be socially responsible. Results reveal four main household profiles that are distinguished by different broad patterns in these two behaviours. Household profiles are found to differ in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes towards the environment, as well as with respect to their level of support for various food policies. Interestingly, results regarding the relationship between environmental attitudes and red meat consumption may suggest the existence of another “meat paradox” in the sense that one group of respondents reports high levels of environmental concern but also a high frequency of meat consumption.