IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jcopol/v47y2024i1d10.1007_s10603-023-09557-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Acceptance of Low-Carbon School Meals with and without Information—A Controlled Intervention Study

Author

Listed:
  • E. André

    (Chalmers University of Technology)

  • P. Eustachio Colombo

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • L. Schäfer Elinder

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine)

  • J. Larsson

    (Chalmers University of Technology)

  • M. Hunsberger

    (University of Gothenburg)

Abstract

This controlled intervention study focused on optimizing a school lunch menu to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The objective was to evaluate the impact of introducing a low-carbon menu on pupils’ acceptance of school meals, as well as to assess whether providing information about the menu change independently influenced pupils’ acceptance. The study was conducted across six compulsory schools in a Swedish municipality, divided into three groups: schools implementing a menu change only (Menu), schools implementing a menu change with clear information provided to pupils (Menu + Info), and control schools serving the standard menu (Control). During a seven-week baseline period, all schools served the standard menu. Subsequently, for seven weeks, Menu and Menu + Info schools transitioned to a low-carbon menu achieved through the utilization of low-carbon recipes—reducing the proportion of food items with significant climate footprints while maintaining the recommended nutritional standards. In Menu + Info schools, pupils were presented with an informative video about the menu change during class. The acceptance of the low-carbon menu was evaluated through daily measurements of food consumption, plate waste, and meal satisfaction surveys. The study’s findings revealed that neither the menu change nor the information significantly affected the pupils’ acceptance of the new menu. These results align with prior studies, reinforcing the viability of employing low-carbon recipes to reduce the climate footprint of school meals. Moreover, this study demonstrates that providing supplemental information for transparency or educational purposes can be implemented without adversely affecting menu acceptance.

Suggested Citation

  • E. André & P. Eustachio Colombo & L. Schäfer Elinder & J. Larsson & M. Hunsberger, 2024. "Acceptance of Low-Carbon School Meals with and without Information—A Controlled Intervention Study," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 109-125, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jcopol:v:47:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10603-023-09557-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10603-023-09557-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10603-023-09557-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10603-023-09557-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liselotte Schäfer Elinder & Patricia Eustachio Colombo & Emma Patterson & Alexandr Parlesak & Anna Karin Lindroos, 2020. "Successful Implementation of Climate-Friendly, Nutritious, and Acceptable School Meals in Practice: The OPTIMAT ™ Intervention Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Patricia Eustachio Colombo & Emma Patterson & Liselotte Schäfer Elinder & Anna Karin Lindroos & Ulf Sonesson & Nicole Darmon & Alexandr Parlesak, 2019. "Optimizing School Food Supply: Integrating Environmental, Health, Economic, and Cultural Dimensions of Diet Sustainability with Linear Programming," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Bryngelsson, David & Wirsenius, Stefan & Hedenus, Fredrik & Sonesson, Ulf, 2016. "How can the EU climate targets be met? A combined analysis of technological and demand-side changes in food and agriculture," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 152-164.
    4. Chiara Lombardini & Leena Lankoski, 2013. "Forced Choice Restriction in Promoting Sustainable Food Consumption: Intended and Unintended Effects of the Mandatory Vegetarian Day in Helsinki Schools," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 159-178, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kurz, Verena, 2018. "Nudging to reduce meat consumption: Immediate and persistent effects of an intervention at a university restaurant," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 317-341.
    2. Grace Gardner & Wendy Burton & Maddie Sinclair & Maria Bryant, 2023. "Interventions to Strengthen Environmental Sustainability of School Food Systems: Narrative Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Anna Birgitte Milford & Charlotte Kildal, 2019. "Meat Reduction by Force: The Case of “Meatless Monday” in the Norwegian Armed Forces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Gravert, Christina & Kurz, Verena, 2017. "Nudging à la carte – A field experiment on food choice," Working Papers in Economics 690, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2017.
    5. Kurz, Verena, 2017. "Nudging to reduce meat consumption: Immediate and persistent effects of an intervention at a university restaurant," Working Papers in Economics 712, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    6. Fleck, Ann-Katrin & Anatolitis, Vasilios, 2023. "Achieving the objectives of renewable energy policy – Insights from renewable energy auction design in Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    7. Zhen, Wei & Qin, Quande & Miao, Lu, 2023. "The greenhouse gas rebound effect from increased energy efficiency across China's staple crops," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    8. David Bryngelsson & Fredrik Hedenus & Daniel J. A. Johansson & Christian Azar & Stefan Wirsenius, 2017. "How Do Dietary Choices Influence the Energy-System Cost of Stabilizing the Climate?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, February.
    9. Oriana Gava & Fabio Bartolini & Francesca Venturi & Gianluca Brunori & Angela Zinnai & Alberto Pardossi, 2018. "A Reflection of the Use of the Life Cycle Assessment Tool for Agri-Food Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    10. Morena Bruno & Marianne Thomsen & Federico Maria Pulselli & Nicoletta Patrizi & Michele Marini & Dario Caro, 2019. "The carbon footprint of Danish diets," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 156(4), pages 489-507, October.
    11. Dimitrios P. Platis & Christos D. Anagnostopoulos & Aggeliki D. Tsaboula & Georgios C. Menexes & Kiriaki L. Kalburtji & Andreas P. Mamolos, 2019. "Energy Analysis, and Carbon and Water Footprint for Environmentally Friendly Farming Practices in Agroecosystems and Agroforestry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-11, March.
    12. Pierre-Marie Aubert & Baptiste Gardin & Élise Huber & Michele Schiavo & Christophe Alliot, 2021. "Designing Just Transition Pathways: A Methodological Framework to Estimate the Impact of Future Scenarios on Employment in the French Dairy Sector," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, November.
    13. García-Leal, Javiera & Espinoza Pérez, Andrea Teresa & Vásquez, Óscar C., 2023. "Towards the sustainable massive food services: An optimization approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    14. Oriana Gava & Fabio Bartolini & Francesca Venturi & Gianluca Brunori & Alberto Pardossi, 2020. "Improving Policy Evidence Base for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security: A Content Analysis of Life Cycle Assessment Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-29, February.
    15. Jennifer A. Jay & Raffaella D’Auria & J. Cully Nordby & David Andy Rice & David A. Cleveland & Anthony Friscia & Sophie Kissinger & Marc Levis & Hannah Malan & Deepak Rajagopal & Joel R. Reynolds & We, 2019. "Reduction of the carbon footprint of college freshman diets after a food-based environmental science course," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 547-564, June.
    16. Aschemann-Witzel, Jessica & de Hooge, Ilona & Amani, Pegah & Bech-Larsen, Tino & Gustavsson, Jenny, 2015. "Consumers and food waste - a review of research approaches and findings on point of purchase and in-household consumer behaviour," 143rd Joint EAAE/AAEA Seminar, March 25-27, 2015, Naples, Italy 202716, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    17. Jayet, Pierre-Alain & Isbasoiu, Ancuta & De Cara, Stéphane, 2020. "Slaughter cattle to secure food calories and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions? Some prospective estimates for France," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 101(1), July.
    18. Soler, Louis-Georges & Thomas, Alban, 2020. "Is there a win-win scenario with both limited beef production and reduced beef consumption?," TSE Working Papers 20-1067, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    19. Louis-Georges Soler & Alban Thomas, 2020. "Is there a win–win scenario with increased beef quality and reduced consumption?," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 101(1), pages 91-116, October.
    20. Pierre-Marie Aubert & Baptiste Gardin & Élise Huber & Michele Schiavo & Christophe Alliot, 2021. "Designing Just Transition Pathways: A Methodological Framework to Estimate the Impact of Future Scenarios on Employment in the French Dairy Sector," Post-Print hal-03653089, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jcopol:v:47:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10603-023-09557-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.