Analysis of Chinese Consumers’ Nutrition Facts Table Use Behavior Based on Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model

Zeying Huang,Haijun Li,Jiazhang Huang

doi:10.3390/ijerph182212247

Abstract

The nutrition facts table is a nutrition labeling tool designed to help consumers understand the nutritional content of food and make informed food choices. However, the utilization rate of the nutrition facts table has been low in China since its introduction in 2013. This study employed structural equation modeling to investigate consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the nutrition facts table by using an online survey of 930 valid samples from 31 provinces in China based on the knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) model. The analysis revealed that most respondents had a positive attitude, but not a good level of knowledge or practice in their use of the labeling. Respondents’ knowledge about the nutrition facts table directly affected their attitude, through which it could then affect their practice, whereas knowledge played an indirect role in nutrition labeling use. The results confirmed that the KAP model is suitable for explaining consumers’ use of nutrition labels in China, and that the first step to promoting labeling usage is to enrich consumers’ knowledge on the nutrition facts table.

Highlights

The nutrition facts table is a nutrition labeling tool designed to inform consumers of the nutritional properties of a food [1] and meet consumers’ requirement for accurate, standardized and comprehensible information on the content of food items in order to make healthy choices [2]
Propositions that link exogenous variables with endogenous variables were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM), which is reliable in examining the relationships between different constructs, and provides accurate and meaningful results [27]
Rimpeekool et al [21] reported a positive and significant relationship between consumers’ attitudes and practices regarding food labeling among consumers in Thailand. Our study showed such a relation, with those with more positive attitudes towards the nutrition facts table associated with a high likelihood of using nutrition labeling, so attitude was identified as an important factor in influencing labeling adoption practices

Summary

Introduction

The nutrition facts table is a nutrition labeling tool designed to inform consumers of the nutritional properties of a food [1] and meet consumers’ requirement for accurate, standardized and comprehensible information on the content of food items in order to make healthy choices [2]. The nutrition facts table is a standardized statement or listing of the nutrient content of a food, and it is widely applied in countries such as the United. The Report on Nutrition and Chronic Diseases in China (2020) illustrated that over 50% of adults were overweight or obese in 2019, with an increase of at least 8% compared with the year 2012 [7]. To increase the use of nutrition labels by consumers, China has conducted various dietary education programs such as National Nutrition Week activities, which have been held every year in the third week of May for the promotion of nutrition knowledge from 2015 to the present, but to date these have had limited effects [11]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion