Abstract
Environmental pollution has drawn widespread attention to food safety. People are becoming more conscious of their health and the sustainable development of food, and are setting higher standards for food safety, which have led to the development of better alternatives to food. In this study, we examine the willingness of college students to buy alternative foods and the factors that influence their purchase decisions, as well as the sustainable development of alternative products. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between social influence, food safety, nutrition confidence, exercise commitment, dietary habits, satisfaction, attitude, and purchase intention. We conducted a survey among 799 college students. According to the study, social influence, food safety, and dietary habits greatly influence the satisfaction, attitude, and purchase intention of college students when purchasing alternative food. Attitude and purchase intention are positively correlated with satisfaction. Moreover, nutritional confidence and attitude are significant predictors of purchase intentions. The findings of this study supplement the research of college students on the factors that influence the selection of insect foods as alternative foods within the context of frequent food shortages and safety concerns. To assist farmers, producers, consumers, and extension personnel in making informed decisions, we provide relevant information on factors affecting the supply and demand of alternative food.