Urban–Rural Disparities in Knowledge, Use and Perceived Benefits of Nutrition Labels in China: Evidence from 10 Provinces

Author:

Fan Linlin1,Wang Zhigang2,Zhao Yiwen1,Ma Ye3

Affiliation:

1. Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA

2. School of Agricultural Economics and Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China

3. Information Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Abstract

There exist significant gaps in nutritional status between urban and rural populations in China. The previous literature has shown that more knowledge and usage of nutrition labels are instrumental in improving diet quality and health. The aim of the study is to analyze: (1) Are there urban–rural disparities in consumer knowledge, use and perceived benefits of nutrition labels in China; (2) If so, what are the magnitudes of the disparities; (3) What can explain the disparities, and how can the disparities be reduced? The Oaxaca–Blinder (O-B) decomposition is utilized to analyze the predictors of urban–rural disparities in nutrition labels based on a self-conducted study of Chinese individuals. The information from a total of 1635 individuals (aged 11–81 years) across China in 2016 was collected in the survey. We find that rural respondents have less knowledge, lower usage and perceived benefits of nutrition labels than their urban counterparts. Demographics, focus on food safety, frequent shopping locations and income jointly explain 98.9% of the disparity in the knowledge of nutrition labels. Nutrition label knowledge is the predictor which contributes most to urban–rural disparity in label use—accounting for 29.6% of the disparity. Nutrition label knowledge and use are the two biggest predictors of disparities in perceived benefits—accounting for 29.7% and 22.8% of the disparity in perceived benefits, respectively. Our study suggests that policies aiming to improve income and education, as well as raising awareness of food safety in rural areas, are promising in closing the urban–rural disparities in nutrition labels knowledge, use, diet quality and health in China.

Funder

China National Natural Science Foundation

Generalized Virtual Economy Technology Research Funding Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Hatch Appropriations

USDA

China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Food Science,Nutrition and Dietetics

Reference39 articles.

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2. Langenbrunner, J.C., Marquez, P.V., and Wang, S. (2011). Toward a Healthy and Harmonious Life in China: Stemming the Rising Tide of Non-Communicable Diseases, The World Bank.

3. The State Council of the People’s Republic of China (2021, June 16). Report on Nutrition and Chronic Diseases of Chinese Residents (2020), Available online: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2020-12/24/content_5572983.htm.

4. Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017;Afshin;Lancet,2019

5. Comparative study on burden of diet-related chronic diseases in China between 1990 and 2016;He;Wei Sheng Yan Jiu J. Hyg.,2019

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