Access All AreasIndividuals with dietary requirements are choosing not to attend outdoor events because of the risks they associate with the experience, according to a study by the University of the West of England.
More than half (53%) of respondents opted not to attend an event at least once for reasons relating to their dietary needs, with 49% having felt ‘sad’ about it.
The research, funded by the Association for Events Management Education, found the risks that concern UK residents with dietary requirements include not being able to purchase food they can eat, the potential for cross-contamination and being stigmatised when trying to purchase food.
Some 710 people with medical, religious and ethical dietary needs were surveyed as part of a mixed-method research project, which included people who had attended an event in the past 12 months and those who had not.
The university’s senior lecturer in events management Clare MacKay, who oversaw the research project, said the results demonstrate that people with dietary needs associate outdoor events with risk, and this makes them anxious: “They adopt various strategies to try to cope, including not attending, and this experience has a negative impact on their wellbeing. Forward thinking events organisers and food vendors can make changes to positively contribute to the wellbeing of attendees with dietary requirements and make events more sustainable.”
The researchers recommend events organisers undertake training to understand the diversity of dietary requirements and the impact of dietary needs not being met on individuals’ wellbeing.
They encourage events organisers to make a commitment to catering to the needs of attendees with dietary requirements for medical, religious and ethical reasons and ensure this is implemented in practice. They advise events organisers to improve communications for attendees with dietary requirements and to avoid generalised statements that all dietary requirements will be catered for.