Fear or security? The role of nutrition literacy on sustainable and balanced dietary adherence

The findings indicate that food security is a stronger determinant of sustainable dietary choices than the perception of scarcity. While nutrition literacy is not effective in influencing perceptions of scarcity, it plays a role in strengthening the relationship between food security and sustainable choices. The study reveals that policies supporting sustainable nutrition should not be limited to structural improvements alone, but should also be supported by interventions aimed at improving individuals' nutritional literacy. As this study was conducted exclusively among female university students, the findings should be interpreted within this demographic context.