Determination of factors affecting consumers'functional food consumption: A case of Isparta Province,Turkey

The Institute of Graduate Education Department of Agricultural Economics Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Vecdi DEMİRCAN In the study of this thesis, it is aimed to determine consumer behaviors towards functional foods and the factors affecting them. For this purpose, the sociodemographic characteristics of consumers, their level of knowledge about functional foods, which functional foods they consume, reasons of consumption, frequency of consumption and consumption expenditures were determined. In addition, factors affecting functional food consumption were determined. The main material of the study was the face-to-face interviews with 384 consumers living in urban areas of Isparta province and the data obtained by the survey method. According to the results of the study, 89.58% of the interviewees were determined to be functional food consumers. The reason for the high rate of this study is that the survey was conducted in the urban area of Isparta and it was shown that the interviewed persons are caused by an increase in their education and income levels. In the research, it was seen be beneficial to health that the first factor that the consumers pay attention to when they decide on the food product they consume. The most consumed products of consumers are mineral water, mixed fruit juice and green tea respectively. Consumers are aware of the most food through the internet and the first three benefits of; these foods to feel themselves more healthy, swelling, elimination of problems such as gas and regulating bowel function. Consumers consumed functional food at least 2 or 3 times a week. The health benefits provided by the consumers about the functional foods they are paying attention to when buying functional foods, the information provided by the experts about the functional foods and the brands of these products are important. The main reasons for the consumption of functional foods are that they benefit from the health of functional foods and love their tastes, make them feel in shape and also help prevent diseases. In the study, it was found that functional food consumption had no effect on gender, age, marital status, household width and total monthly income, but it was found to have a relationship with the educational status of the individuals. Key Words: Functional food, Food cunsumption, Consumer preferences.