Behavioral predictors of household food-safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: Extending the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

The epidemiological scenario of COVID-19, social distancing, and business restrictions has increased food preparation and consumption at home. Food mishandling at home can significantly raise the risk of foodborne diseases. This study investigates food-mishandling behavior predictors by applying the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), with the addition of knowledge and risk perception, to households during the COVID-19 pandemic. One thousand and sixty-eight consumers (n = 1068) in Brazil participated in this study before the COVID-19 vaccination period. Data were collected using an online questionnaire with 40 questions and different anchors; they were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The following original TPB factors positively affected the intention to implement safe food-handling practices: attitude (p < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (p < 0.001), and subjective norms (p < 0.001). More robust effects of attitude and perceived behavioral control on intention were also observed. Although food-safety knowledge did not affect intention (p = 0.30), it positively affected the other TPB factors. Perceived risk positively affected all TPB factors. The results of this study support the usefulness of TPB and its extension, providing evidence that public-health crises can contribute to changes in food-safety-related consumer behavior.

The Multifaceted Relationship between the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Food System

“…In some cases, supermarkets placed product purchase limits for specific foods that were particularly demanded, such as flour and yeast in the European Union. The purchase of these primary products was linked to a growing trend of home cooking and baking, reported in many European countries [ 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ], often explained as a response to inactivity and boredom [ 78 ]. Moreover, it was observed that, due to the fear of contamination by SARS-CoV-2, increased hygiene measures were implemented both in the domestic preparation of foods and in the management of food products bought at the supermarket, for example by disinfecting the packaging.…”

“…Moreover, it was observed that, due to the fear of contamination by SARS-CoV-2, increased hygiene measures were implemented both in the domestic preparation of foods and in the management of food products bought at the supermarket, for example by disinfecting the packaging. In the study by Mucinhato et al (2022), it was observed that Brazilian consumers improved their hygienic behavior in food handling because they were influenced by risk perception [ 77 ]. Faour-Klingbeil et al (2021) reported that consumers in Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia changed their behaviors in favor of more sanitation and disinfection practices, including more people using detergents to wash fresh fruit and vegetables, such as soaps and non-food bleach [ 79 ].…”

Does Government-Led Publicity Enhance Corporate Green Behavior? Empirical Evidence from Green Xuanguan in China

“…Zhang et al [58] also applied this theory to study the relationship between employee perception, employee attitude, and employee behavior in nuclear power plants. The framework of publicity (information)-intention/perception-behavior has been appropriately modified by many documents according to their research problems and logic [48,[59][60][61][62]. Wang et al [63] combined TPB with the norm activation model (NAM) to study the effect of information publicity on the behavioral intention of residents' e-waste recycling.…”

“…Wang et al [63] combined TPB with the norm activation model (NAM) to study the effect of information publicity on the behavioral intention of residents' e-waste recycling. Mucinhato et al [59] applied the extended theory of planned behavior to study the influencing factors of household food mishandling during the COVID-19. Tama et al [60] applied the extended theory of planned behavior to study the influencing factors of farmers' willingness to protect agriculture.…”

“…has been appropriately modified by many documents according to their research problems and logic [48,[59][60][61][62]. Wang et al [63] combined TPB with the norm activation model (NAM) to study the effect of information publicity on the behavioral intention of residents' e-waste recycling.…”