The influence of food choices determinants on the achievement of the sustainable food consumption goal: an emerging subject in food consumer sciences in an e learning environment

As described by A. P. Moura and L. M. Cunha: “food choice is a complex behaviour influenced by many interrelating factors. These factors may be categorized as those related to food, the individual making the choice and the external economic and social environment within which the choice is made. Sensory attributes, and particularly taste, are reported as one of the most important factors that influence the individual food choice, especially for Western societies. Moreover, changes in lifestyle, occupational patterns and urbanization have also contributed to changes in culinary practices and dietary habits, having increased the need for safe convenience foods. Additionally, as contemporary food system production is becoming ever more globalized and industrialized, it also gives rise to major environmental impacts due to its reliance on high fossil-fuel energy use, chemicals, and energy inputs, long-distance transport, low-cost human work and cultural loss.