Yahya Ozdogan

Consumer Attitudes toward Food Consumption and Purchase in Turkey

This study was conducted in the Ankara Province of Turkey to determine the attitudes of adult consumers toward food consumption and purchasing activities. The data were collected by conducting face-to-face interviews with 700 adults working in ministries (government office) to fill in a questionnaire prepared especially for this purpose. The responses to the questionnaire were evaluated by assigning points for the “food-consumption-and-purchasing attitudes” of each respondent based on their replies. These food-consumption-and-purchasing attitude points have been then analyzed in terms of the gender, age, and educational level of the adults involved. The results showed that women, the 30–39 age group, and university graduates have a higher score of food-consumption-and-purchasing attitude points than do men, the age group comprising respondents < 30 and ≥ 40 years of age, and those with lower education levels, respectively. A statistically significantly relation was observed between food-consumption-and-purchasing attitude points and age.

Genetic alterations and nutritional habits among fast-food employees

Fast food sector is growing due to changing lifestyles. This model is very popular in all over the world and it comes with the idea to evaluate certain health aspects in terms of employee health and safety which became more of an issue recently. Nutritional habits, physical activity levels and possible genetic changes related to nutrition among the fast-food employees were evaluated in this work. 24 hour food and physical activity level records were used to determine nutritional habits and physical activity levels of employees (n=26) and controls (n=19). Exfoliated buccal cells were used to determine genetic change level related to nutrition habit. It was found that the two groups’ energy intake was lower than the recommendation levels. But experimental groups’ activity level was too high. A significant increased incidence of changes between the controls and subjects were observed (P<0.05); a non-significant increase in females and a significant increase in males were also observed. Smoking habit did not significantly affect the genetic changes in both genders. Based on our results, the nutrition habit of the experimental group most probably affected their genome health. However further detailed work should be conducted to arrive at definite conclusion.

Production and Characteristics of a Turkish Traditional Food in Another Country (Jonkoping-Sweden): Molasses

Pekmez, which has been produced for a long time in Turkey, is one of the popular and traditional Turkish foods (Tosun & Ustun, 2003 ; Celik & Surucuoglu, 2005) . Although it is not very common, it is being tried in houses and production places in some countries where Turks live. Pekmez is produced primarily from grapes (Alpaslan & Hayta, 2002; Surucuoglu & Celik, 2005; Batu et al., 2007). Grapes suitable for fruit juice yield, sugar content, acid value and ripening time are suitable for molasses production.Turkey , approximately 4185.126 tons of grapes are produced per year (TUIK, 2012), and approximately 30% of the grapes produced in Turkey are used for pekmez, wort and sausage with pekmez production in a year. In this study, some information is given on Molasses (produced in another country), production stages, effects on health and the relevant regulations and in terms of product chemical and microbiological characteristics.

Young adults’ milk consumption habits and knowledge about milk

ABSTRACT This study was performed to determine young adults’ milk consumption habits and their knowledge about milk. This is a descriptive study and sample is comprised of 205 young adults. Data were collected using a questionnaire and in face-to-face interviews. To check the questionnaire’s reliability, the internal consistency coefficient was calculated and the Kuder Richardson (KR-20) value was found to be 0.77. The mean milk knowledge score was 17.50±4.21. It was found that males (17.54±4.36) scored higher than females (17.47±4.12). The 22-24 age group (18.14±4.34) scored higher than 19-21 age group (16.90±4.02). These differences in mean milk knowledge scores were not found to be statistically significant (p>.05). This study clarifies all the reasons why milk consumption should be increased. The reasearchers believe that sharing knowledge about milk’s health benefits using media or other training methods is an important way to raise consumers’ consciousness and prevent possible health problems.

Turkish Adolescents’ Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet

Abstract This study aims to examine nutritional status and KIDMED of adolescents, and to determine their relation with some parameters. The study sample included a total of 497 students selected from high schools. Of the participants, 52.5 percent were females (n=261) and 47.5 percent were males (n=236). To determine the KIDMED index of adolescents, the independent t-test was used for gender. One-way ANOVA was used for the variables of age and Body Mass Index (BMI). The adolescents’ average score for KIDMED was 4.65±2.38. Of them, thirty-one percent had “poor” diet quality (<3), 58.4 percent had “average” diet quality (4-7) and 10.6 percent had “good” diet quality (>8). MedDiet is effective in providing a healthy life. It is important that governmental policies encourage people to follow this diet to prevent future health problems.