Episode 34 – Cost, origin, taste: what influences our food choices?

According to EFSA's Eurobarometer survey of over 26,000 Europeans, cost is the primary factor influencing food purchasing decisions (60%), followed by taste and food safety (approximately 50%), with food origin and nutrient content being the least important factors; food safety concerns are primarily focused on pesticide residues, antibiotic/hormone residues in meat, and food additives, though microplastics concern has increased significantly from 2022, and while TV remains the top information source for food safety (used by over half of Europeans), social media usage is growing, particularly among younger consumers under 25.