Nutrition Label Knowledge and Attitude to Affect Healthy Food Choice among Young Consumers in Malaysia

Abstract

This research attempts to investigate the direct effect of nutrition label knowledge on attitude, and, nutrition label knowledge and attitude in choosing healthy food among Malaysian consumers as well as the role of nutrition label attitude as a mediator. This research applied the quantitative approach. A sample comprised 381 Malaysian consumers with minimum age of 18 years old. Data from a sample were obtained using a structured questionnaire and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that nutrition label knowledge as a significant predictor of nutrition label attitude and, nutrition label knowledge and attitude as significant predictors of healthy food choice. In addition, the findings reveal the nutrition label attitude as a partial mediator in the relationship between nutrition label knowledge and healthy food choice. Although the findings provide fresh insights on the role of nutrition label knowledge and attitude in affecting healthy food choice, this research requires a replication in future research as to improve the explanatory power of the framework.