Determining the changes and expectations of covid-19 pandemic in consumer behavior on food safety: example of Bitlis Eren University

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every field as well as the food production sector and consumer attitudes and behaviors regarding food safety. This study is a cross-sectional study in a screening model planned to determine the changes and expectations that the COVID-19 pandemic has made in the personal judgments, attitudes and behaviors of Bitlis Eren University academic and administrative staff on food safety. In the study, online survey method was used as a data collection tool. As a result of the study, the majority of the participants think that COVID-19 is not contaminated with food and that contamination is prevented by keeping the products purchased from outside (market, etc.) for at least eight hours. In the participants (66.1%), the time allocated to personal care and hygiene increased with the COVID-19 pandemic. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance given by the participants to food safety, agriculture, personal hygiene and sanitation has increased. The majority of the participants reported that with the COVID-19 pandemic, people fear of going without food and the importance of hygiene and sanitation rules in food businesses has increased. In the COVID-19 pandemic, it is seen that the concepts of agriculture, food safety and hygiene and sanitation have gained importance.