The relationship between knowledge and the use of nutrition information on food package

Abstract

Nutrition labelling, soon obligatory for all food circulating on the EU market, is a topic of interest since being an important tool that shapes consumers´ conscious food choices. The study tested the influence of nutrition knowledge on the use of labelled nutrition information on 200 Croatian consumers. A comprehensive three-section questionnaire comprising demographic data, a nutrition knowledge test, and questions about the use of nutrition information provided on food labels was employed. Cluster analysis identified three participating clusters (having good, medium, or poor nutrition knowledge). Answers to 70% of the questionnaire items were correct, but the application of nutrition knowledge in an everyday food selection scored low. Best knowledgeable participants (middle-aged with university degree) tend to browse the nutrition label per se, information on sugar content, fat content, the list of ingredients, and the list of additives. The same group of consumers consider nutrition labelling policy helpful and find the information provided on nutrition labels understandable and useful in conscious food choices. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed the use of labelled nutrition information to be significantly influenced by education and nutrition knowledge. Bottom-line, consumers consider nutrition labelling important, but do not pay close attention to information on certain nutrients.