The Effects of Healthy Nutrition Perception and Food Neophobia on Behavioral Intentions towards Edible Insect Products

When we visualize insects in our minds; an image appears about creatures that harm our food and drinks,cause economic and health problems, create negative senses like fear, disgust and shiver. According to manypeople, insects are living creatures which are needed to be eliminated. Yet, nature is not agreeing with thosepeople. It is correct that insects cause many harmful effects but scientists state harmful insects are only %2-3of a bigger insect’s family which involves 1.500.000 species. These results show an only a minor portion ofinsects are harmful, and other ones either helpful or neutral. Insects are important creatures for balance ofnutrition and energy connection. Besides being consumed as an important source of foo, insects are alsohelpful for the food production which results in helping other creatures as well. In this study, it is thoughtthat healthy food perception and food neophobia are effective for the consumption of products based on edibleinsects. In this respect, analyzes were made on gastronomic communities for these products. According tothe results of the analysis, it was found that healthy nutrition perception had a significant and positive effecton neophobia. In addition, while neophobia attitudes of consumers had a significant and negative effect onbehavioral intention towards edible insect consumption, it was observed that healthy nutrition attitude hadno significant effect on behavioral intention towards edible insect consumption. In conclusion, it is seen thatgeneral health perception have a positive influence on food neophobia and food neophobia have negative effecton behavioral intentions.