The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles
IntroductionFood waste is a global issue of primary concern due to its repercussions on the environment, food security, and the economy. Our study aimed to explore the impact of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles in Lebanon, a religiously diverse country.Me...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1010262/full |
| _version_ | 1811188158097784832 |
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| author | Hussein F. Hassan Lilian A. Ghandour Ali Chalak Pamela Aoun Christian J. Reynolds Mohamad G. Abiad |
| author_facet | Hussein F. Hassan Lilian A. Ghandour Ali Chalak Pamela Aoun Christian J. Reynolds Mohamad G. Abiad |
| author_sort | Hussein F. Hassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionFood waste is a global issue of primary concern due to its repercussions on the environment, food security, and the economy. Our study aimed to explore the impact of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles in Lebanon, a religiously diverse country.MethodsA convenient sample of 927 restaurant patrons dining out in Greater Beirut was interviewed face-to-face, and leftovers at each table were collected and weighed.ResultsChristian diners were found to waste significantly less (p < 0.05) than Druze and Muslim patrons in restaurants serving Lebanese and non-Lebanese food. Individuals (19.1% of respondents) from both religions who reported that their relationship with God is the priority in life waste similarly compared to those who claimed to have other priorities. The higher the religiosity score among both Christians and Muslims/Druze groups was, the lower the food waste quantity got, highlighting the reduced wasteful behavior among highly religious people.DiscussionBased on these findings, including religious cues in consumer-based interventions to reduce food waste can be more effective. This can be achieved through marketing campaigns that communicate religious-based messages to trigger religious beliefs that reduce food waste, using physical spaces and rituals of mosques and churches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:16:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99aef0ecbce84a78a9c08f06e6d9c4d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:16:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-99aef0ecbce84a78a9c08f06e6d9c4d52022-12-22T04:19:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2022-12-01610.3389/fsufs.2022.10102621010262The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clientelesHussein F. Hassan0Lilian A. Ghandour1Ali Chalak2Pamela Aoun3Christian J. Reynolds4Mohamad G. Abiad5Nutrition Program, Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonCentre for Food Policy, Department of Health Services Research and Management, City, University of London, London, United KingdomDepartment of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonIntroductionFood waste is a global issue of primary concern due to its repercussions on the environment, food security, and the economy. Our study aimed to explore the impact of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles in Lebanon, a religiously diverse country.MethodsA convenient sample of 927 restaurant patrons dining out in Greater Beirut was interviewed face-to-face, and leftovers at each table were collected and weighed.ResultsChristian diners were found to waste significantly less (p < 0.05) than Druze and Muslim patrons in restaurants serving Lebanese and non-Lebanese food. Individuals (19.1% of respondents) from both religions who reported that their relationship with God is the priority in life waste similarly compared to those who claimed to have other priorities. The higher the religiosity score among both Christians and Muslims/Druze groups was, the lower the food waste quantity got, highlighting the reduced wasteful behavior among highly religious people.DiscussionBased on these findings, including religious cues in consumer-based interventions to reduce food waste can be more effective. This can be achieved through marketing campaigns that communicate religious-based messages to trigger religious beliefs that reduce food waste, using physical spaces and rituals of mosques and churches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1010262/fullfood wastereligiosityrestaurant customersfood waste behaviorrestaurantbehavior |
| spellingShingle | Hussein F. Hassan Lilian A. Ghandour Ali Chalak Pamela Aoun Christian J. Reynolds Mohamad G. Abiad The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems food waste religiosity restaurant customers food waste behavior restaurant behavior |
| title | The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles |
| title_full | The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles |
| title_fullStr | The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles |
| title_short | The influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles |
| title_sort | influence of religion and religiosity on food waste generation among restaurant clienteles |
| topic | food waste religiosity restaurant customers food waste behavior restaurant behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1010262/full |
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