Factors influencing a healthier fast food choice intention after the provision of energy and extended nutritional information among working young adults in the City of Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the factors influencing a healthier fast food choice intention after the provision of nutritional information (energy only and energy, total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol) among adults aged 20 to 34 years old and employed in Cape Town. By way of a self-reported questionnaire, a survey was conducted using snowball sampling, to determine whether the provision of the nutritional information would influence the intended choice of a beef burger; which nutritional information would do so, and whether any significant factors (demographic, biographic and lifestyle characteristics, eating practices and fast food consumption) influenced the change in respondent choice intention toward a healthier fast food item. The 39 questions collected data on the respondent fast food consumption, intended beef burger choice before and after the provision of the nutritional information, and the respondent demographic, biographic and lifestyle characteristics. A little more than half (52,2%) of the 157 respondents reported that their intended beef burger choice would be influenced by the provision of nutritional information, with energy and extended nutritional information provision both found to positively support the healthier fast food choice intention among the respondents. Twelve respondent attributes were found to significantly (p < 0,05) influence the intended choice based on the nutritional information provision, with health-consciousness being the overall consolidating factor to influence the intended choice to a healthier option.