Abstract:
Fruits, being an excellent source of nutrients, play a vital role in meeting the daily
nutritional requirements of people. However, fruit consumption is often influenced
by various beliefs and myths, some stemming from cultural traditions and others from
misconceptions. This study aimed to identify the prevailing beliefs and myths related
to fruit consumption and their impact on consumption patterns among university
students. Thirty beliefs and myths were identified through key informant interviews
with students, academics, health personnel, government officers and the general
public. A total of 216 students were randomly selected from ten state universities with
agriculture as a field of study for the main study. Data were collected through an
online survey using a pre-tested Google questionnaire. The daily fruit intake of the
majority (53%) of students was less than the daily recommended level of 200 g. Of
the respondents, 69%, 31% and 24% consumed banana, mango and papaya
respectively, as the most consumed fruits. Only 34% of respondents consumed more
than two types of fruits per day. Of the 30 beliefs and myths, 63% were identified as
accurate through a literature search. Only 12 beliefs (40%) were significantly
associated with fruit consumption among the respondents (p<0.10). These beliefs
were, 1.“Ethylene-treated fruits are less tasty”, 2.“Pomegranates are good for many
diseases”, 3.“Fruits are better than fast food”, 4.“Fruits with vitamin C help in weight
loss”, 5.“Fruits create healthy and clear skin”, 6.“Eating double bananas leads to the
birth of twins”, 7.“Soursop is suitable to reduce bladder stones”, 8.“Grapes are good
for the heart”, 9.“Ripe jack fruit should not be consumed in the evening”,
10.“Consuming ripe jack fruit with pepper does not cause stomach-aches”,
11.“Consuming too much cacao can cause constipation”, and 12.“Eating amban and
kolikuttu bananas may cause weight gain”. In conclusion, university students’ eating
habits are associated with beliefs and myths about fruit consumption.
