What Stops Europeans From Eating Better and Greener Food?

Food choices don't happen in a vacuum. They are shaped by a mix of personal habits, social surroundings, and bigger system rules. A new study looked at this across 27 European countries to see what helps or hurts healthier, more sustainable eating.

The research is part of the FEAST project, which focuses on food systems that support better diets and planet-friendly habits. The team wanted to understand how factors at different levels influence what people eat, buy, and prefer. These levels include personal beliefs, community norms, and national policies.

They surveyed 27,000 adults across five major European food regions: Anglo-Saxon, Central European, Scandinavian, Southern European, and Eastern European. The goal was to spot patterns and differences between regions and groups.

Special attention was given to vulnerable groups, including older adults, people with low income or education, those with health issues or disabilities, families with children, women, and gender-diverse individuals. These groups often face extra hurdles when trying to eat well and sustainably.

The study uses a cross-sectional design, meaning it captures a snapshot of behaviors and attitudes at one point in time. This helps identify key barriers and enablers without tracking long-term changes.

Results aim to guide future policies and programs that make healthy, sustainable food more accessible to everyone. By understanding what works and what doesn't, decision-makers can design better support systems for real dietary change.