SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF STUDENTS' CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY

The research aimed to determine whether and which sociodemographic and cognitive characteristics of Generation Z students influence their food safety concerns related to food production and distribution, legal requirements, quality assurance systems, or inspection bodies.The research sample consisted of students from five faculties of a large university in Poland.The survey was conducted using a face-to-face questionnaire method.Twelve food safety concerns were assessed.A significant relationship was found between sociodemographic variables and study variables such as information on the label, control of official inspections, implemented quality system, independent certification bodies, applicable legal requirements, country of origin of food, place of purchase, food producer, and factors related to the external environment (producer organizations, activities of consumer organizations and COVID-19 pandemic).Respondents were most concerned about the control of official inspections, food producers and their food quality assurance systems, and information on the label, and least concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic.Significant factors that differentiate students' concerns about food safety include the general level of trust, the type of customer, and the source of food safety information.