Perception and knowledge of functional foods in university nutrition and health students

Introduction: The perception of functional foods (FF) is influenced by available information, sociocultural influences, and sensory and nutritional characteristics, while their consumption is determined, to a greater extent, by cost and accessibility. Objective: This exploratory study analyzed the perception of FF in 752 undergraduate students in nutrition and postgraduate students in health at the Facultad de Salud Pública y Nutrición (FaSPyN) at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL). Material and method: A questionnaire was applied that evaluated: 1) association of words with FF, 2) perception of benefits, accessibility, and consumption, and 3) source of information and reason for consumption. Results: The term most associated with FF was "health." More than one-third of students related FFs to wellness and health benefits, and 43.8% gained knowledge about them in school. In addition, the consumption of omega-3, prebiotics and fiber, the latter as a component of functional foods, was significantly associated with the level of education. Conclusion: Graduate students show a clearer perception of FF compared to undergraduate students, which shows the need to strengthen teaching on this topic in undergraduate programs to improve their understanding and encourage informed consumption.