Abstract
The use of the nutrition facts label has been associated with healthy eating behaviors for adults. However, the relationship between nutrition facts label use and overall diet quality is not well known in young adults, a vulnerable group that acquire lifelong eating behaviors during this period of life. This study aimed to assess if the use of information on the nutrition facts label is associated with a higher diet quality in young adults. In this cross-sectional study, 958 university students aged 18–34 years were recruited. Nutrition facts label use was recorded. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recall. Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) scores were calculated. HEI-2005 score was significantly associated with using nutrition facts label (p < 0.001). The mean total HEI-2005 score was 60.7 ± 10.11, 62.4 ± 11.43 and 67.1 ± 12.23 respectively for never, sometimes and everytime users of nutrition facts label (p < 0.001). Sub-group scores of HEI-2005 for total fruits, whole fruits, total vegetables, whole grains, milk, oils, saturated fat, and calories from solid fat, alcohol and added sugar (SoFAAS) were significantly higher in regular nutrition facts label users (p < 0.05, for each). This study showed that young adults who regularly use the nutrition facts label have a higher diet quality.
Highlights
The nutrition facts label, mostly found on processed foods, could be a cost-effective tool for communicating nutrition information to consumers at the point of purchase to help them make healthy food choices
While 40% of the participants were staying in dormitories or 30.7% of them were living with friends in a house, only 3.7% of them were living in a house alone
More than half of the participants (54.7%) reported that they use the food label every time, whereas only 38.2% of the participants were recorded as everytime users of the nutrition facts label
Summary
The nutrition facts label, mostly found on processed foods, could be a cost-effective tool for communicating nutrition information to consumers at the point of purchase to help them make healthy food choices. It provides consumers with information about the energy and nutrient content of food and beverages, and it provides a better understanding of foods purchased and consumed. Citizens of low or middle-income countries can take advantage of using the nutrition facts label as an efficient nutrition education tool to choose a better diet and healthy lifestyle [7]
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