Consumer Knowledge and Willingness Pertaining to the Adoption of a Sustainable Diet: A Scoping Review

The current food system is harming both planetary and human health. The shift to a sustainable diet can help alleviate both adverse effects. The aim of this review was to conduct a scoping review of the literature pertaining to consumer knowledge and willingness concerning the adoption of a sustainable diet. A total of 45 papers met the eligibility criteria. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were employed to conduct the scoping review. Studies reported that many participants have misconceptions regarding the meaning of a sustainable diet, and their willingness to adopt a sustainable diet was oftentimes low. Evidence also suggests that the lack of knowledge regarding sustainable diets and the reluctance to reduce meat consumption are chief factors hindering the transition to a sustainable diet. Gender imbalance was also evident with females forming the majority of total participants. During the time of the literature search, no studies were conducted in Ireland. Research needs to be conducted in this country, specifically on young consumers, to explore their knowledge and willingness to adopt a sustainable diet. This would provide further insights into the research area of sustainable diets.