O27: Cultural and Socioeconomic Correlates of Food Label Use and Food Intake Among Adults in New Jersey

Purpose This study aims to determine the effects of nutrition knowledge on the use of nutrition facts labels in emerging adults by defining the nutrition education status. Design/methodology/approach For this cross-sectional study, 919 young adults, aged 18–24 years, were recruited. Participants trained by dietetic professional at least 2 h per week during the period of at least one education period were considered as having nutrition education. Food label use, specific circumstances and different food products were recorded. The participants were also asked about their attitudes regarding food label use with a questionnaire including 15 products. Findings Nutrition facts label is mainly used when buying a product for the first time, a product of an unknown brand or comparing different companies’ similar products, regardless of nutrition education status. Participants with nutrition education had a higher nutrition facts label use and they use the score for specific food products including breakfast cereal (p = 0.003), snacks (p < 0.001), beverages (p = 0.004), ready to eat soups (p = 0.004) and diet products for special occasions (p < 0.001). Mean total score of attitudes regarding food label use for participants who had nutrition education was found as 58.9 ± 6.1 and who did not have nutrition education was found as 51.7 ± 9.2 (p < 0.01). Originality/value Nutrition education, which is related to the nutrition facts label use, would be especially useful in helping people for the selection of healthier foods. As habits acquired from childhood will last for a lifetime, more effective nutrition education programs and nutrition label reading education programs should be designed. The findings need to be considered for promoting nutrition facts label use by developing nutrition education.

Download Full-text

The role of health-related, motivational and sociodemographic aspects in predicting food label use: a comprehensive study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001100156x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 407-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Rebecca Hess ◽

Vivianne HM Visschers ◽

Michael Siegrist

Keyword(s):

Motivating Factors ◽

Food Labels ◽

Food Label ◽

Health Consciousness ◽

German Speaking ◽

Health Related ◽

Food Label Use ◽

And Gender ◽

Comprehensive Study ◽

Label Use

AbstractObjectivePrevious studies focused on a limited number of determinants of food label use. We therefore tested a comprehensive model of food label use consisting of sociodemographic, health-related and motivating variables. These three predictor groups were chosen based on the previous literature and completed with new predictors not yet examined in a comprehensive study of frequency of label use.DesignWe sent questionnaires to a random sample of households in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.SettingThe respondents filled in the questionnaire at home and returned it by mail.SubjectsWe analysed the data of 1162 filled-in questionnaires (response rate = 38 %). Of the respondents, 637 were women (55 %), and their mean age was 53·54 (sd 15·68) years.ResultsHealth-related variables were the most important group of predictors of label use, followed by motivating factors and sociodemographic variables. Placing importance on health, healthy eating and nutritional value of food, perceived vulnerability for diet-related diseases, nutrition knowledge, numeracy and gender were positively associated with frequency of food label use whereas shopping habits and seeing eating as something positive were negative predictors of frequency of label use.ConclusionsPeople's health consciousness should be raised in order to increase the frequency of food label use. Furthermore, it should be stressed that reading labels and keeping a healthy diet do not contradict ‘good eating’, and that both of these aspects can be combined with the help of food labels.

Download Full-text