FOOD HABITS RELATED TO TIME AND THE FREQUENCY OF CONSUMPTION OF FOOD PRODUCTS AND DRINKS IN POLAND

Elżbieta Goryńska-Goldmann
Department of Food Management Economics, Agricultural University of Poznan, Poland

ABSTRACT

Food habits are the result of reaction, social relationship and individual preferences. When only Polish’s diet changes unceasingly, the processes of globalization proceed also and the growth of income per capital follows then the individual food habits are changing. In this article, food habits were considered in aspect of frequency and time the consumption of individual groups of food products, drinks and the degree of interest the cuisines of world. It was showed that social – economical attributes, such sex, age, domicile, size of household, level of educations, income and source of maintenance, which in essential prepare their food habits differentiate.

Key words: food habits, consumption, consumer.

INTRODUCTION

In the last 40^th years in countries about high-level of national income per person, and Poland in the last 15^th years happened the revolutionary changes of food habits. Transformations of food habits of social groups set more quickly obviously, during in other groups’ tradition impersonate predominant continually.

The food habits are the result of reaction, social relationship and individual preferences. Food and patterns of consumer behaviour in households are the basis of norms cultural essential conditions. When only polish diet changes unceasingly and the processes of globalization proceed also as well as the growth of income follows on one person then the individual food habits are changing [6]. The researches conducted by USDA’a Economic Research Service (the ERS) show, that together with growth the level of income in data the state on world, the behaviour patterns are changing. Food habits changes in the states when high-level of income assume small sizes in comparison with the states about lower level of income relatively. The last researches suggest that all demographic factors influence rate of changes and the composition of consumed food.

The slow changes of size of income, supply as well as cultural patterns, tradition, level education and social’s mobility decide about changes in consumption [2]. The researches of individual budgets of household in Poland show statistically essential consumption differentiation of food in Poland in individual types of households, distinguished with regard to basic variables the social -economical. In the home lonely persons’ households stepped out higher than average consumption of all food products, however the higher education, younger age of head of household, better economic situation as well as habitation in larger city favoured higher consumption of such products as meat, milk drinks, juices and mineral water, fruit and vegetable [4].

Shaping food habits as well as way of nourishment of Poles have essential meaning for food economy at all and particularly in developing market economy at present in distinction from many years’ central her management in the past, when the consumer possessed on choice of comestibles small influence. Transformations, which dropped in the way of life changes, pulled behind in food habits.

The aim of the study is analysis of food habits of Polish society, which are related to time, and frequency of particular food products and drinks consumption and degree of interest in the cuisines of world.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

In present study as material were used the primary data coming from all-Polish questionnaire conducted by team of workers of Department of Agri – Food Economics in Poznań in year 2003 under direction of Professor M. Sznajder. Data related to the Polish consumers’ food habits was the aim of these researches. The researches were conducted by the method of personal interview. The tool of the researches was a questionnaire survey. In this survey as a method of sampling was non-random sample selection based on quota sampling. The basic criteria of selection of test respondents were age, sex as well as domicile (type locality and voivodship. The number of test was established on the level of 1500 persons in above 15 year of life. Representative part of population of every of voivodship of was considered. Town and country-folk were chosen proportionally to its part in every voivodship.

It was provided a statistical analysis with using test of chi – square independence on significant level p ≤ 0.05. The strength of relationship among variables was measured by Spearman coefficient.

On studied test women’s made up 51.6% and men – 48.4%. From among whole researches participants, 13.7% population persons’ group had represented in age since 15 till 19 years; 22.2% – from 20 to 29 years; 20.2% – from 30 to 44 years; 19.9% – from 45 to 54 years; 12.4% – from 55 to 64 years; 11.5% – since 64 years. It was showed that social and economical factors, such; sex, age, domicile, size of household, level of the educations and main source the maintenance as well as level of income falling of family size of household to the consumers’ features the food, which differentiate food habits essentially.

THE CONSUMPTION OF CHOSEN FOOD PRODUCTS AND BEVERAGES

The assurance of suitable level consumption of food is very important question, propelled in literature often both with economic regards, as and social. Important meaning ties not only to quantity of consumed food not only, but also to structure consumption. The decisive factors related to level and structure of consumption of are among the other: the level of income, level of prices, the social, demographic and natural conditions as well as traditions, and food habits [1, 4].

The results of investigations over models of nourishment of Polish households [5] show, that as yet the only 16% Polish consumers’ aims to enlargement the consumption of healthy, safety food (the fruit and vegetables with ecological cultivations, etc.). The conservative tendencies in majority of households predominate in consumption the food. Every second Polish consumes mainly traditional dishes or buys these products, which can economical, afford to them. Every third Polish consumer declares by introduction of new products the variety of diet.

The setting in Poland social and economic transformations, reception by part of societies of patterns characteristic behaviours for societies of West Europe, what often the companions the change of hierarchy of declared values, they cause the formation the new lifestyle and the changes call out in food habits. These changes appear among other things in kinds of consumed meals and their composition.

Territorial differentiation is the special aspect of food consumption. In conducted survey on food habits of Polish society, respondents were asked about meal consumption during the day. It was confirmed, that percentage of answers was not regular.

The high percentage respondents declared consumption at least three basic meals such as breakfast, then dinner and supper (figure 1). Declaring respondents made up small percentage consumption lunchtime/dinnertime. On different times of consumption such as teatime and consumption among meals showed suitably lower percentage questioned.

Conducted researches disclosed, that majority questioned behaves with relating to optimum number of recommended meals during the day. The frequency of occurrence of demonstrative on eating the meals about the same times answers grows along with the respondents’ age. That declared every fourth person in age 20 to 29 years and every second – above 60 year of life. Every third questioned in age 15 to 19 years committed oneself regular meals consumption.

Polish were asked about consumption of chosen food products during the day, in track of individual meals, such as the breakfast, dinner, lunchtime/dinnertime, tea meal, supper as well as among meals (table 1).

It was affirmed that bread consumes on breakfast 4/5 of Polish society, and 2/3 – rolls. Consumption of cottage cheeses and hard cheese near 70% questioned pronounced. Every second respondent consumes eggs, and 2/5 of studied population – meat and its preserves. About 25% respondents confirmed consumptions of fruit and vegetables preserves, however fruit and blue cheeses – only just every fifth. Dinner consists of meat mainly and his products (92.7% of questioned). Consumption of vegetables pronounced 3/4 respondents, and half of them confirmed consumption of fruit and vegetable preserves. During lunchtime/dinnertime also meat and his products and vegetables consumes almost every second person. Bread as well as fruit and preserves of fruit and vegetables consumes near 30%. Tea meal introduces similarly. Consumption of fruit pronounced 73% of respondents then, every fifth respondent pronounced consumption vegetables, products of fruit and vegetable and bread, and every tenth – hard cheeses. Supper similarly like breakfast is meal, when the most respondent declared consumption cereals products (79.5% bread; 35.4% rolls) and hard cheeses (59.4%). Almost every second respondent showed on consumption meat and his products as well as eggs, and every fourth – vegetables and fruit and vegetable products. Over 15% of respondent declared consumption of blue cheeses and fruits. The custom of snacking among meals is very popular. Polish people consume mainly fruits (87.5%) every fourth respondent declares consumption of vegetables, and every seventh – their products. The rest of products are not very popular.

The beverages are very important components of Polish daily diet. It was researched the consumption of beverages during particular meals. In research the following beverages was indicated: coffee, tea, milk, kefir or yoghurt, cocoa, juice, mineral water, beer, wine as well as strong alcohol (table 2).

With the consumers’ declaration on the times of consumption results, that on both breakfast and supper declares over 70% Polish respondent the tea’s drinking. During remaining meals, the tea’s drinking declares 19.5% the respondents during the time of dinner; 32.9% – lunch – supper; 27% – tea; 22.3% – among meals. Moreover, 1/3 of respondents declare drinking coffee (38.7%) and milk (31.3%) on breakfast as well as cocoa (18.9%), kefir or yoghurt (14.1%), juice (10.2%) as well as mineral water (7.0%). During time of dinner every second respondents declared drinking of juice, and every third – mineral water, every tenth – kefir or yogurt. Juice and mineral water were also favourite water during time of lunchtime/dinnertime and tea; suitably for juice (35.7%; 26.9%), mineral water (25.0%; 14.6%). During the supper interviewed willingly drink milk (14.7%) as well as every tenth respondent – cocoa, juice or mineral water. Among meals respondents the most willingly drank mineral water (52.2%), juice (38.6%), kefir or yoghurt (14.0%) as well as milk (7.0%).

Drinking beer, wine and strong alcohol was declared by few respondents, apart from breakfast. The drinking of beer the respondents declared among meals (16.4%) as well as during lunchtime/dinnertime and supper (about 7.0%); wine – dinner, lunchtime/dinnertime (about 7.0%) and supper (5.7%); strong alcohol – between meals (3.2%) and supper (1.7%).

In sphere of food and nourishment step out they the differences under relation quantity and kind of consumed food, examples of her consumption, including the definite habits and customs among members of different communities, and even the members of individual families. The results of conducted studies showed the causes of disproportion in consumption however are diverse. They are related to wealth of household, the kind of executed work by members of household, domicile, the way of food purchasing and the nutritional traditions. The differentiation about consumption can be said in reference to section social – economic and also in reference to group, for example to group of social poor and rich class of country.

The analysis of influence guild the consumer’s social-economical on consumption of chosen food products and beverages permitted on ascertainment several interesting of observations. The declarations regarding of consumption food and drink products are different in case of household of social poorer class Poland in comparison from household of social richer class.

The reason of considerable difference is consumption more often basic commodities food and drinks through household of social poorer class such as the flour, bread, grits, petals and rice, vegetable’s, potatoes, smooth milk, animal fats (with except of butter) as well as the sugar. Simultaneously the household about comparatively low consumption (richer the social group) the superiority marks, in comparison from poorer layers, the high consumption of fruit and preserves, butter, cheeses, fish as well as high-quality sausages which are more expensive articles.

The researches of relationship among declaration the consumption of chosen food products and drinks with respondents’ social – economical guilds it permitted on indication statistically essential dependence these consumption of food products and drinks on age, domicile, main source of maintenances and income falling of family size of household.

THE FREQUENCY OF CHOSEN FOOD PRODUCTS AND DRINKS CONSUMPTION WITH REGARD OF SOCIAL-ECONOMICAL FEATURES

The consumers’ declaration about frequency of consumption of individual food products and drinks results mainly with the consumers’ individual fancies.

Among consumed dairy products such as: drink milks, yoghurt as well as milk and blue cheeses are consumed every day by over 90% of the respondents. Every second Polish does not consume blue cheese, every third – kefir and every fourth – melted cheese. Higher percentage questioned showed consumption butter than margarine. Butter more often than once a day consumes over 1/3 studied. Every third declared consumption lard several times in month. Every second questioned declared consumption meet and poultry preserves once or twice a week. Every third Polish consumes meat and beef, veal preserves several times a month as well as 1-2 times a week – meat and beef preserves, fish and his products. Among cereal products everyday consumption of bread declared over 95% of the Polish. Over half of society the several times a month and every third questioned – 1-2 times a week consumed rice, pasta and grits. Among fruit and vegetables as well as their preserves, every second studied declared consumption in summer fresh fruit more often than once a day; every fourth – the boiled vegetables, green and leguminous and fresh fruit the winter in majority of days of week.

Among drinks, the highest percentage of respondents declared drinking more often than once a day – tea (65.3%), coffee (39.3%) and mineral water (39.9%). Every fourth studied declared the drinking of coffee and tea at least once during the day, and every seventh – the mineral water, fruit and vegetable juice as well as nectars. Every tenth respondent confirms drinking mineral water – 1-2 times a week. Drinking fizzy drinks showed the smallest percentage of studied. Every tenth studied confirmed in during day their drinking, and every fourth – several times a month.

The age differentiates the answer of studied the relating to frequencies of chosen food products and drinks consumption. Figure 2 introduced consumers’ declarations regarding to frequency of blue cheeses consumption. Age influences on frequency consumptions blue cheese. Younger persons declared thinner consumption of these products than older persons did.

Factor which differentiates the answer studied the relating frequencies of consumption was among other things – the level of education. There were better-educated persons who declared to consume consumption of high processed products, tea, mineral water, fruit and vegetable juice as well as nectars more frequently. Doubtless one should connect the level of education and level of income per one person in household.

The main source the maintenances and size of income per one person in household explain the perceptible difference in way of revival of social individuals group’s of Poland. This confirmation found also in this case. The higher education and growth of level income grow larger declared frequency of consumption the following products: poultry meat, fish, yogurt and milk drinks, butter, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit and vegetable juice, nectars as well as mineral water (figure 3). In household of social poorer class of Poland questioned, more often declared the consumption of bread, grits, potatoes, vegetables, milk and margarine.

The investigation of relationship among declaration of frequency the consumption of chosen food products and drinks with respondents’ social – economical guilds permitted on indication statistically essential dependence the frequency consumption of food products and drinks on education level, income falling of family size of household and also on age, sex, domicile and main source the maintenance.

CONSUMER’S DECLARATIONS RELATING TO CONSUMPTION OF WORLD CUISINE DISHES

With anthropological point of view, “culture of nourishment” defined as culinary order, which is general feature of sure the men’s group. It depends on geographical factors and climatic, as well as historical and social, even if we are witnesses the growing international cultures of nourishment at present.

Conducted investigations confirm that Polish people in 15 years and more often consume Polish dishes. Over 95% of respondents asked about favourite dishes it showed on Polish cuisine. Next, the most often exchanged was Italian cuisine (54.5%) and Chinese (33.6%). Oriental cuisine and Borderland was shown by every fifth Polish person, and the declaration of consumption of seafoods was folded where through every tenth respondent. The traditional dishes of Polish cuisine are consumed in majority of days of week. It was answered by 35.9% questioned; every fourth Polish consumed it once a day; every tenth – once or twice a week or several times a month. The consumption the dishes of Italian cuisine declared 42.9% questioned in month several times, and Chinese cuisine – 26.2%. In case of Italian cuisine, almost every second young person confirmed such custom (figure 4). The lowest percentage of respondents who chose this answer’s was affirmed among the oldest questioned (every fourth studied). Respondents belonging to the other groups chose this answer in 39 – 43%. The persons’ number did not having the custom of consumption the aftermath dishes of Italian cuisine generally falls along with the consumers’ age.

The research of relationship between the consumption of chosen food products and drinks with respondents’ social – economical guilds it permitted on indication statistically essential dependence these consumption of food products and drinks on age, domicile, main source of maintenances and income falling of family size of household.

The research of relationship between declaration of consumption frequency of world cuisine dishes, with respondents’ social – economical guilds it permitted on indication statistically significant dependence these consumption of world cuisine dishes on age, domicile and size of income. Demographic and economic profile of Polish consumers influences on frequency world cuisines dishes consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumers’ survey conducted on territory of whole Poland make possible to introduce several conclusions, which in general way define Polish’s food habits regarding to time and frequency of consumption chosen food products and drinks and world cuisine dishes.

1. Polish people have different food habits regarding to time and frequency of consumption chosen food products and drinks.

2. Breakfast, dinner and supper are the basic consumed time by Polish. Relative small percentage of respondents declared consumption lunchtime/dinnertime.

3. There are age, domicile, main source of maintenances and income that influence time of selected food products and drinks’ consumption.

4. In household of social poorer class of Poland questioned, more often declared the consumption of bread, grits, potatoes, vegetables, milk and margarine.

5. The higher education and growth of level income grow larger declared frequency of consumption the following products: poultry meat, fish, yogurt and milk drinks, butter, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit and vegetable juice, nectars as well as mineral water.

6. Thee are education level, income falling of family size of household and on age, sex, domicile and main source the maintenance that influence frequency of consumption chosen food products and drinks.

7. Demographic and economic profile of Polish consumers influences on frequency world cuisines dishes consumption. Age, domicile and size of income influence consumption of world cuisine dishes.

REFERENCES

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2. Bywalec C., 2002: Poziom i struktura spożycia żywnosci w Europie œrodkowowschodniej na tle procesów transformacji gospodarczej [The level and structure of food consumption in Central and Eastern Europe in comparison with economic transformation]. Materiały konferencyjne, SGGW Warsaw [in Polish].

3. Food Balance Sheets, FAO.

4. Gutkowska K., 2003: Zróżnicowanie poziomu i struktury spożycia żywnosci w różnych typach gospodarstw domowych [Diversification of level and structure of food consumption in different types of households]. Żywienie człowieka i metabolizm XXX, 1-2 [in Polish].

5. Mazurek-Łopacińska K., 2004: Postawy i zachowania polskich konsumentów u progu integracji z UE [Attitudes and behaviours of Polish consumers before EU accession]. Acta Universitatis Lodzienisis Folia Oeconomica 179 [in Polish].

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