Perception of typical Ukrainian foods among an Italian population

The Russian-speaking communities constituted the most recent flux of migration to Italy: as a consequence, their foods are still little known. This work was aimed at exploring the attitudes of Italians towards eastern European foods.A structured questionnaire was submitted to a sample Italian population in order to analyze food neophobia, awareness/information about traditional markets of the eastern migrant communities, and the specific interest in 10 selected traditional foods. Food neophobia was higher among the elderly and among the less educated people. The awareness of eastern foods was higher among the elderly, whereas willingness to try was higher among the younger people. Education did not affect awareness, but increased willingness to try. The interest in specific foods was generally lower in the less educated people, the elderly and the neophobics, with differences depending on the nature of foods.This research indicates some potential for the development of new products, that could arise from an enhanced exchange of knowledge between Italians and Ukrainians and other Russian-speaking communities.

► Attitudes of an Italian population towards foods of the Ukrainian migrant communities.
► Highest rates of food neophobia among the elderly and less educated people.
► Willingness to try eastern European foods highest among the younger and the well educated groups.
► Interest in specific foods lower in the less educated people, the elderly and the neophobics.
► Information and education are important determinants for the appreciation of new food traditions.