Sustainable food: diverse diet and responsible consumption practices, in alternative consumers in colombia: comparative study of five cities - Armenia, Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Pereira

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction. Food sustainability aims to ensure that food consumption does not affect the balance of the environment by increasing the Carbon footprint or the loss of biodiversity; nor does it aim to affect the economy of the actors immersed in the food system. Objective. Analyze the sustainable eating practices of regular consumers by the alternative model of food distribution in the cities of Armenia, Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Pereira. Methods: Through qualitative and quantitative information based on surveys of individuals and certain groups, the diversity in the consumers diet, their consumption practices and the consumption, the management of food, organic waste and the use of plastic, was analyse from a perspective of sustainability are disclosed. Results. The diversity of the diet of the study participants was evaluated as low, medium or high, with Medellín being the city where the majority consumed a diverse diet, followed by Bogotá and Pereira. Consumers prefer a diverse diet, that does not compromise the consumption of food, and one that contains Vitamin A and D as nutrients of interest. It is found that responsible consumption practices are not common due to different factors such as: compromised or imprecise information that motivates the selection of foods with health properties; economic limitation for other people to access, preventing equitable development of responsible consumption practices motivated in these aspects; generation of food waste in food groups of interest (to a greater extent: fruits, vegetables and cereals); frequent use of single-use plastics; and inadequate waste management. Conclusions. The eating pattern in relation to dietary diversity contributes to the consumption of food sources of Vitamia A and D. Despite the identification of a wide and free intention to have a sustainable diet and responsible consumption practices, these occur in a limited way. Conflicts of interest. The Authors declares that there is no conflict of interest.