Food Label Use and Associated Factors: A Cross Sectional Study from Occupied Palestinian Territories

Background: Use of food labels can help consumers to make informed choices on foods they purchase which could have beneficial role in protection from obesity and diet related chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate food label use in the Palestinian society along with related factors. Methods: Electronic survey was distributed on social media platforms to Palestinian society in West Bank, Gaza, and other places of Palestinian communities’ presence. The survey collected data on demographic variable, obesity, chronic disease history and nutritional deficiencies. In addition to food label use information. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 21 software. Results: We included 271 participants in our study, mean age of our study group was 25.6±10 y, mainly females. Obesity was present in 24.4% of the study group, whereas 42.8% reported they were not satisfied with their current weight and 49.4% reported they attempted to lose weight. The prevalence of label use in our study group was 61.6%. Majority of label users obtained information on amount of calories, serving size, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals content. Very few obtained information on sodium, saturated fat and transfat in food product. Food label use was significantly related to age (p<0.05) and healthy dietary patterns (p<0.05), but was not related to obesity and chronic disease. Conclusion: Our study indicate high rate of label use among Palestinians with some gaps in nutrition information obtained.

Relationship of Food Label Use and Household Availability of Beverages in a Sample of Mothers of Preschool Children Participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between maternal participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the use of food labels to purchase various types of beverages, and whether home availability of beverages differed by SNAP participation. Low-income mothers (n=250) of preschool children were surveyed. Food label use to purchase beverages and home availability of beverages were analyzed using adjusted multivariate logistic regression and iteratively reweighted with least squares regression. SNAP participants were approximately 50% less likely to use the food label to purchase beverages for the home than non-participants. SNAP homes also had significantly higher availability of fruit juice (192 oz vs. 128 oz), juice drinks (192 oz vs. 128 oz), regular soda (156 oz vs. 135 oz), and low-calorie beverages (469 oz vs. 243 oz) than non-SNAP homes (p < 0.05). Further research is needed to understand the attitudes and group-specific characteristics associated with food label use and beverage availability among low-income families.

Who Reads Food Labels? Selected Predictors of Consumer Interest in Front-of-Package and Back-of-Package Labels during and after the Purchase

The paper aims to identify selected predictors of food label use to extend our knowledge about consumer behavior related to food purchases. Two types of information were examined: front-of-package (FOP) and back-of-package (BOP), and two contexts of reading labels were distinguished: during shopping and at home. Various types of potential predictors were tested, including demographic (e.g., age, gender, household size, place of living), socioeconomic (e.g., education, professional activity, income), behavioral (e.g., purchasing certain types of products), and psychographic (e.g., importance attached to various types of information) criteria. The survey was conducted with the use of the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviews) methodology in a sample of 1051 Polish consumers. Quota sampling was applied based on sex, age, education, place of living (urban vs. rural), and region. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVAs, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple and retrograde step regressions were applied. In retrograde step regression models, only one predictor (self-rated knowledge about nutrition healthiness) turned out to be significant for all four measures of label reading. The remaining predictors were specific to selected measures of reading labels. The importance of the information about the content of fat and that about the health effects of consuming a food product were significant predictors of three types of food label use. This study confirms the necessity to investigate reading labels in fine-grained models, adapted to different types of labels and different contexts of reading. Our results show that demographic or socioeconomic variables are not significant predictors of reading food labels for a large group of Polish consumers.

How does nutrition education contribute to the consumers’ use and attitudes towards food labels?

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.

Associations among eating behaviour traits, diet quality and food labelling: a mediation model

Objective:To assess the associations among eating behaviour traits, food label use and diet quality and to evaluate if the association between eating behaviour traits and diet quality is mediated by food label use.Design:Eating behaviour traits were assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), the Restraint Scale and the Intuitive Eating Scale, whereas food label use was measured with the Label Reading Survey. Diet quality (Canadian Healthy Eating Index) was assessed with an FFQ.Setting:Cross-sectional study.Participants:Adults (n 385; mean (sd): BMI = 26·0 (4·9) kg/m2, age = 41·1 (15·0) years) involved in two previous experimental studies.Results:When controlling for potential covariates, general food label use (β = 1·18 (se 0·26), P < 0·0001) was the main determinant of diet quality, explaining 6·7 % of its variance. General food label use partly mediated the association between TFEQ-cognitive restraint and diet quality; the indirect effect (βindirect (se); 95 % CI) was stronger in men (0·32 (0·10); 0·15, 0·55) than women (0·16 (0·05); 0·08, 0·27). General food label use also partly mediated the negative association between unconditional permission to eat and diet quality; the indirect effect (βindirect (se); 95 % CI) was also stronger in men (−1·88 (0·55); −3·11, −0·96) than women (−1·03 (0·33); −1·81, −0·49).Conclusions:General food label use was the main determinant of diet quality and partly mediated the association between eating behaviour traits and diet quality. The stronger mediating effect observed in men suggests they rely more on food labelling when attempting to restrained themselves, which translates into better diet quality.

Nutritional knowledge, attitude, and use of food labels among Indian adults with multiple chronic conditions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the indirect effects of nutritional knowledge and attitude toward food label use on food label use through self-efficacy and trust, as well as whether gender moderates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach A sample of Indian adults with multiple chronic conditions was surveyed about their nutritional knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and use of food labels. Hypotheses were tested using Hayes’s (2013) PROCESS macro for SPSS. Findings The results show that nutritional knowledge and attitude toward food label use positively predict food label use through self-efficacy and trust. However, these mediation effects are moderated by gender such that the indirect relationship is stronger among men than women. Practical implications Food marketers and government agencies engaged in nutrition education campaigns should aim to increase patients’ confidence in comprehending food label information. Social implications Since food labels can be a valuable tool to help patients with chronic diseases to make informed decisions about their diet and lifestyle, regulators may consider mandating nutritional labels on foods to help them improve their food or dietary choices. Originality/value This study uniquely applies Fisher and Fisher’s (1992) information–motivation–behavioral skills model as a theoretical framework to examine the influence of nutrition knowledge and attitude toward food label use on food label usage of Indian patients with multiple chronic diseases.

Delay discounting and its association with food purchasing considerations and food availability in the home in south-east Alabama, USA

ObjectiveCertain factors, such as food quality, label content and grocery characteristics, may be considered when purchasing foods. Food availability in the home has been shown to influence dietary behaviours, also associated with delay discounting (DD). The present study sought to characterize the relationships between DD, food purchasing considerations and healthfulness of foods in the home.DesignA cross-sectional, online survey of adults (n 477) was conducted with the following measures: DD, consideration of food quality (nutrition, taste) and grocery characteristics (price, ease of preparation, shelf-life) while shopping, use of food labels and food availability in the home. DD was assessed by the area under the delay discounting curve (AUC) using a binary choice task. Greater AUC reflects lower DD. Structural equation modelling was used to allow AUC to simultaneously predict purchasing considerations and foods in the home.SettingOnline survey.ParticipantsAdult employees in south-east Alabama, USA.ResultsDD was negatively associated with food label use and emphasis on food quality when shopping (P<0·001). In the final model, DD was associated with availability of healthful foods in the home and emphasis on food quality and grocery characteristics. About 33 % of the variance in shopping behaviours, 5 % in food label use, 7 % in availability of healthful foods and 4 % in availability of unhealthful foods was explained by DD.ConclusionsIndividuals with lower DD appear to be more thoughtful in making food purchasing decisions and have healthful foods available in the home more frequently than individuals with higher DD.