Abstract:

The main goal of the article is to find whether the following generation, comprised by today’s young people, has a tendency to aggravate or to eliminate ecological and social problems resulting from consumption of food products. The achievement of the research was possible thanks to investigate young people’s preferences and behaviour concerning this area in the aspect of sustainability. The survey questionnaire was addressed to 440 people aged 15-23. The research has shown that highest nutrition irregularity occurs in case of having suppers by young people (41.2%), followed by breakfasts (20.6%) and dinners (18.4%). The largest group of people (61.2%) prefers typical dishes of the Polish cuisine. A group of respondents comprising 24.8% of the total eat products of the fast food category. Relatively few people (11.7%) consume vegetable and fruit salads, vegetable and fruit cocktails. Eating one’s fill and overeating are practiced by 72.2% of respondents. Young people are uninterested in veganism (0.5%). Vegetarianism has slightly more adherents (4,3%). Only 10.8% of the surveyed do not waste food. Free donation of food for social purposes is not very widespread among young people. Only 12.4% of this age group do it often or very often. More than 20% of young people do not segregate food product packaging (23.4% at home, 27.0% away from their place of residence). The research has shown that most young people in Poland contribute to aggravation of ecological and social problems in the sector of food products. Such situation is also a challenge for marketing in the area of changing attitudes and behaviour of young people that relate to the purchase, consumption and handling of food products