What Do Turkish Parents Think About Using Bee Products for Their Children?

TL;DR

This study explores Turkish parents' perceptions and usage of bee products like honey for their children's health and development.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into Turkish parents' awareness and practices regarding bee products for children's health.

Findings

Parents primarily use honey, with some also using propolis and pollen for their children.

Parents often mix bee products with other foods to improve palatability for children.

Parents believe bee products support children's development and disease prevention.

Abstract

Healthy nutrition is an essential factor in the growth and development of children. To support children’s developmental processes and protect them from diseases, their immune systems must be strengthened through a balanced diet. Bee products are natural substances with high nutritional value. Although various studies show the benefits of bee products on human health, there are uncertainties among parents regarding their use. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate parents’ awareness of using bee products for their children and to determine their perceptions about the effects of these products on their health. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 40 parents of children aged 4–6 years. It was found that the bee products consumed by their children were primarily honey, with some parents also using propolis and pollen. In cases where children did not want to consume bee products, parents mixed bee products with other foods to make them more palatable. Parents use natural products to support their children’s development and protect them from diseases, and generally prefer honey as a bee product.

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