CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON YOUNG ADULTS' DIETARY PROTEIN CHOICES: SHANGHAI VERSUS AMSTERDAM

Abstract

Developing nations are presently in the midst of a profound economic and nutritional metamorphosis. Historically, as incomes surge and individuals attain greater affluence, the protein constituents of their diets, once primarily sourced from cereal crops and plant-based origins, undergo a progressive substitution with proteins derived from animal products (Gouel & Guimbard, 2018). This transition from plant to animal protein signifies a pivotal shift, commonly acknowledged as protein transition. While income is a chief driving force behind this shift, the selection of animal protein—whether meat, fish, or dairy—can also be influenced by a spectrum of other elements, including governmental policies, religious beliefs, and various socio-cultural variables (Drewnowski & Poulain, 2018).