Awareness About Nutrition Facts on Food Labels and Their Influence on Food Selection Among Consumers

Abstract

Nutrition facts on food labels contain complete information about nutrients (fats, proteins, cholesterol, salt, sugar and vitamins) and calorie content of packaged food items. Objective: To determine the awareness about nutrition facts on food labels and their influence on food selection among consumers. Methods:  This is a cross-sectional study and was done by using self-designed questionnaire, among 206 individuals of age group between 18 to 65 years, which were selected from different grocery stores and nearby area, after getting their consent. Results: Study findings revealed that around 53% of selected respondents sometimes read nutrition facts on food labels, only 13.1% consumers always read nutrition facts, 14.5% of them never read food labels and only 39% changed their purchasing decision after reading food labels. Results also showed that 48.1% of consumers found nutrition facts helpful and reliable and 60% respondents felt confident an made better choices after reading food labels. Conclusions: The percentage of consumers using food labels is low which means that unhealthy eating is prevailing, so this study can be used as a reference to develop policies regarding awareness about use of nutrition facts on food labels, promoting healthy eating habits in the country.