Determination of milk and dairy products consumption behaviors and perception of high school students being educated at different schools

Within the scope of this study, a questionnaire comprising 40 questions was conducted on 395 students selected randomly from four different high schools (i.e. science high school, Anatolian high school, labor school and private high school) with the objective to determine their perception and behaviors for consumption of milk and its products. The students participated to the study were in the first and second classes of the high schools, and the data obtained as a result of the questionnaire were tabularized by school and gender groups. In consequence of the research, it was seen that 73,4% of the participants preferred homemade foods, 10,7% of them preferred regional products. Of them, 88,1% considered that the controls in food sector were insufficient. It was monitored that 62,7% of those consuming dairy products preferred branded products, and the brand had a significant effect on their consumption. It was determined that 64,5% of the students participated to the questionnaire principally preferred cow's milk among types of milks, and male students consumed more milk in proportion to female students. 63,5% of the female students and 55,0% of the male students frequently considered that prices of milk and its products were normal. It was understood that an important part of the female students (61,7%) preferred pasteurized/daily milk, 49,6% of the male students preferred pasteurized/daily milk, but the proportion of those who preferred the sterilized/UHT milk was a quite low value of 16,3% in male students. Of the students participated to the questionnaire, 49,8% considered keeping healthy and balanced diet, whereas 49,8% of them did not consider keeping healthy and balanced diet. It was understood that 32,6% of the male participants did not notice firm information and the place of production in buying food products; however, the female participants were more careful on this topic. 42,28% of students think that all additives are harmful to health and 61,52% think that processed dairy products are unhealthy. The proportion of high school students affected by the media in food consumption is very low. It was understood that Science High School students were relatively more conscious in the consumption of milk and milk products. It is considered that the findings in the wake of the questionnaire will provide contribution to literature in industry of milk and its products being a significant branch of the food industry.