Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: October | Volume: 7 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 203-209
Survey on Consumer Knowledge and Use of Food Labels
Sathyasurya Daniel Robert1*, AkshayChandran*
1A. Professor,
*Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dr.NGP Arts and Science College, Autonomous and Affiliated to Bharathiar University, Dr. N.G.P. Nagar - Kalapatti Road, Coimbatore - 641048. India
Corresponding Author: Sathyasurya Daniel Robert
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of reading food label and to compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of reading the food label between the residents of Ernakulam and Coimbatore, India. In this cross-sectional survey, 200 volunteers aged 20- 60 years were asked to complete a questionnaire contained fifteen questions. The Chi-Square test was applied to examine the study data. The results show that only 5% of the total participants had adequate knowledge in reading food labels. There was no association between education level and knowledge of food label reading (χ2=0.897, df=1, P=0.344). But the consumers education level was significantly associated with the frequency of food label reading (χ2=5.170, df=1, P = 0.023). About 19% of the participants totally agreed that the information that was provided on the food label was important. The study showed that 46% of the total participants frequently read the food labels. Ninety percent of the participants stated that they don’t buy the food products without food label and it was found that only 19% of the total participants calculate their food intake based on the information provided on the food label. Participants of this study had low level of knowledge regarding the nutrition information that was provided on the food label.
Key words: Food; Label; Nutrition; Consumer; Information; Knowledge; Understanding