Survey reveals university students’ thoughts on food

The Oxfam Canada World Food Day Student Survey sought to talk to students about food. The findings were telling: most students list price as the most important influence on what food they purchase; close to 40% of those surveyed ‘occasionally’ consider the global implications about the food they eat; and over 90% of students would like to see more locally sourced food made available to them on campus.

Students don’t always think about food origins

What’s most significant to these findings is that in a world of movements promoting sustainable living, only 25% of the students we surveyed thought ‘quite a bit’ about where the food they purchase was produced. Only 20% of the students we surveyed considered the global implications of their food choices ‘frequently.’ In some cases, the comments from students expressed a sense of powerlessness about the food choices on campus. Some students feel hindered by a tight budget and argued that eating healthy is too expensive. Others expressed concern that locally sourced food is poorly labeled or advertised on campus. And one respondent observed that university campuses, the spaces in Canada that invite critical thinking, are ‘owned’ by the multinational corporations that provide food to students.

 

Students want more local food

Of the 1259 responses we collected, 1150 students said they want to see more locally sourced food on campus. Why? Overwhelmingly, the students who responded ‘yes’ are concerned with where and how their food is produced. ‘Price’ and ‘taste’ were also listed as reasons for their answers. For ‘price’, students expressed a desire to support local producers and ‘taste’ is a no-brainer; when we eat food that is better for our health and the environment, it’s bound to taste better than mass-produced, freezer-food, so prevalent at food vendors and meal plan cafeterias!

These messages provide the drive for Oxfam Canada’s campus clubs to continue engaging students through GROW.

 

Survey devised and carried out by students

The World Food Day survey was borne of campus leaders from across Canada. As students themselves, they were curious as to whether their colleagues thought about food, whether they were satisfied with what is provided to them on campus, and whether they are supportive of change regarding food policies at universities. The World Food Day Task Force worked over the summer to finalize the survey questions, explore the world of research ethics and last, to put together a toolkit whereby other campuses could pick up the project and run with it. Twelve clubs began surveying throughout September and October and collected 1,259 responses. Students were approached in cafeterias, libraries and at other Oxfam events. In addition to gauging student opinion about food, the survey results also provide a spring-board for seeking policy change on campuses.

 

More work needed 

Food justice is about access to food that is healthy and nutritious. It is also about access to knowledge: the knowledge of how your food is produced and the knowledge that your choices about food can have positive impacts for our health, the environment and humanity. GROW is about reclaiming this power. The survey shows there is work to do in terms of educating Canadians about issues of food. But the survey itself is a step towards this goal. As one respondent commented, 'Just doing the survey is making me consider where my food comes from,' and from another, 'Thanks for giving me a voice.'

 

Survey results

How often do you buy food from the university cafeteria or other campus-sponsored vendors?

  • A few times a week: 37%
  • A few times a month: 22%
  • Every meal: 17%
  • Only drinks and snacks: 15%
  • Never: 9%

Which factor do you consider most when you purchase food? 

  • Price: 33%
  • Taste: 23%
  • Healthy Choices: 21%
  • Convenience: 10%
  • Where/how it was produced: 5%
  • Religious Practices: 2%
  • Allergy/Food Sensitivity: 2%
  • I don't think about it: 3%
  • Other: 1%

How often do you consider where you food was produced?

  • Very little: 28%
  • Quite a bit: 25%
  • Neutral: 25%
  • Not at all: 13%
  • Very much: 9%

How well does food on campus permit you to eat a healthy diet?

  • Neutral: 35%
  • Very little: 32%
  • Quite a bit: 20%
  • Not at all: 9%
  • Very much: 4%

Would you like to see more locally sourced food on campus? 

  • Yes: 92%
  • No: 6%
  • Indifferent: 1%

Which factor most affected your answer?

  • Where/how produced: 48%
  • Price: 21%
  • Taste: 15%
  • Convenience: 8%
  • Other: 8%

Do you consider the global implications of your food choices?

  • Occasionally: 37%
  • Rarely: 23%
  • Frequently: 20%
  • Not at all: 11%
  • All the time: 8%