Asset Details
Do you wish to reserve the book?
Exploring regional inequities in food safety practices and food security in Italy: A cross-sectional study
Hey, we have placed the reservation for you!
By the way, why not check out events that you can attend while you pick your title.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place the reservation. Kindly try again later.
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
Exploring regional inequities in food safety practices and food security in Italy: A cross-sectional study
Do you wish to request the book?
Exploring regional inequities in food safety practices and food security in Italy: A cross-sectional study
Please be aware that the book you have requested cannot be checked out. If you would like to checkout this book, you can reserve another copy
We have requested the book for you!
Your request is successful and it will be processed during the Library working hours. Please check the status of your request in My Requests.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place your request. Kindly try again later.
Journal Article
Exploring regional inequities in food safety practices and food security in Italy: A cross-sectional study
2026
Overview
•Regional disparities in food safety and security were assessed in a cross-sectional study.•The South and Islands of Italy exhibited lower food safety knowledge and behaviors.•Participants in the Center had over twice the odds of high food security vs very low.•Multinomial logistic regression identified key sociodemographic determinants.•Findings inform targeted policies to improve food safety and security in Italy.
This study examined regional disparities in food security and food safety knowledge and behavior among Italian adults.
Between January and June 2024, we conducted a cross-sectional anonymous online survey targeting Italian residents aged ≥18. The sample size was calculated a priori assuming a 50% prevalence, 95% confidence, and 3% margin of error, yielding a target of 1067 participants. Validated Italian versions of the Food Security Survey Module (It-FSSM) and the Food Safety Knowledge and Behavior Questionnaire (It-FSKB) were employed to assess participants’ knowledge and behaviors. Sociodemographic data, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), educational level, physical activity, smoking habits, and food apps usage, were collected. Multinomial logistic regression—adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and educational level—was used to evaluate regional differences.
Among 1752 participants (70.4% women; mean age: 36.01 ± 13.84 y), those in the South area and Islands were significantly less likely to report high food safety knowledge (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000) and high food safety behaviors (RRR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.52–0.79; P < 0.001), and more likely to experience moderate food insecurity (RRR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.00–2.69; P = 0.048) compared to participants to the North. Participants in the Center were over twice likely than those in the North to report high food security versus very low (RRR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.15–6.43; P = 0.023) and were also 30% less likely to use food delivery apps rarely rather than not at all (RRR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50–0.97; P = 0.034).
This study highlights significant regional disparities, with the South area and Islands facing the greatest challenges. These findings provide evidence to guide targeted public health interventions and policies promoting food safety and security across Italy.
