Evaluation of Consumers' Ability to Use and Understand Food Labels

Güldane Yıldırım; Muhammet Ali Çakır

Article Details

Evaluation of Consumers' Ability to Use and Understand Food Labels

Authors:

Güldane Yıldırım | Muhammet Ali Çakır

Publisher:

İstanbul Gelisim University

Main Topics:

Beslenme Bilimi | Gıda Özellikleri | Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi | Hayvansal Üretim (Diğer)

Journal:

İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Issue 25, pp.140-152

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346557

pISSN:

2536-4499

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Aim: This study aimed to examine consumers ability to use and understand food labeling. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2024 with 403 consumers aged 18-64 years living in Kırklareli, who volunteered to participate. Data were collected face-to-face using the Personal Information Form and Food Label Understanding and Use Skills Questionnaire FLUUSQ. Results: The mean age was 36.32  12.25 years range: 18-64 and 50.1 of the participants were male. The mean FLUUSQ score of the participants was 6.202.81 Range: 0-10. Participants younger than 35 years of age p0.005, single p0.001, with an associates degree or higher p0.000, and with previous nutrition education p0.000 had statistically significantly higher mean FLUUSQ scores. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean FLUUSQ scores and participants shopping preferences, frequency of food label use, and time of reading food label information p0.05. The mean FLUUSQ scores were significantly higher among those who use food labels for nutritional p0.000 and health p0.012 needs, those who used the nutritional claim p0.001 and those who understood the information on the food label p0.002 were significantly higher. Consumers demonstrated an intermediate ability to use and understand food labels. Conclusion: Consumers ability to use and understand food labeling was significantly influenced by factors such as age, education, nutrition knowledge, and label usage habits. It is recommended to strengthen nutrition education and promote awareness about food labeling to enhance consumers ability to make informed dietary choices.

 Aim: This study aimed to examine consumers ability to use and understand food labeling. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2024 with 403 consumers aged 18-64 years living in Kırklareli, who volunteered to participate. Data were collected face-to-face using the Personal Information Form and Food Label Understanding and Use Skills Questionnaire FLUUSQ. Results: The mean age was 36.32  12.25 years range: 18-64 and 50.1 of the participants were male. The mean FLUUSQ score of the participants was 6.202.81 Range: 0-10. Participants younger than 35 years of age p0.005, single p0.001, with an associates degree or higher p0.000, and with previous nutrition education p0.000 had statistically significantly higher mean FLUUSQ scores. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean FLUUSQ scores and participants shopping preferences, frequency of food label use, and time of reading food label information p0.05. The mean FLUUSQ scores were significantly higher among those who use food labels for nutritional p0.000 and health p0.012 needs, those who used the nutritional claim p0.001 and those who understood the information on the food label p0.002 were significantly higher. Consumers demonstrated an intermediate ability to use and understand food labels. Conclusion: Consumers ability to use and understand food labeling was significantly influenced by factors such as age, education, nutrition knowledge, and label usage habits. It is recommended to strengthen nutrition education and promote awareness about food labeling to enhance consumers ability to make informed dietary choices.

 Aim: This study aimed to examine consumers ability to use and understand food labeling. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2024 with 403 consumers aged 18-64 years living in Kırklareli, who volunteered to participate. Data were collected face-to-face using the Personal Information Form and Food Label Understanding and Use Skills Questionnaire FLUUSQ. Results: The mean age was 36.32  12.25 years range: 18-64 and 50.1 of the participants were male. The mean FLUUSQ score of the participants was 6.202.81 Range: 0-10. Participants younger than 35 years of age p0.005, single p0.001, with an associates degree or higher p0.000, and with previous nutrition education p0.000 had statistically significantly higher mean FLUUSQ scores. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean FLUUSQ scores and participants shopping preferences, frequency of food label use, and time of reading food label information p0.05. The mean FLUUSQ scores were significantly higher among those who use food labels for nutritional p0.000 and health p0.012 needs, those who used the nutritional claim p0.001 and those who understood the information on the food label p0.002 were significantly higher. Consumers demonstrated an intermediate ability to use and understand food labels. Conclusion: Consumers ability to use and understand food labeling was significantly influenced by factors such as age, education, nutrition knowledge, and label usage habits. It is recommended to strengthen nutrition education and promote awareness about food labeling to enhance consumers ability to make informed dietary choices.

 Amaç: Bu çalışma, tüketicilerin besin etiketlerini kullanma ve anlama becerilerini incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel bir çalışmadır: Bu kesitsel çalışma Nisan 2024te Kırklarelinde yaşayan ve çalışmaya katılmaya gönüllü olan 18-64 yaş arası 403 tüketici ile yürütülmüştür. Veriler Kişisel Bilgi Formu ve Besin Etiketi Anlama ve Kullanma Becerileri Anketi FLUUSQ kullanılarak yüz yüze toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Yaş ortalaması 36,32  12,25 yıl Aralık: 18-64 olan katılımcıların 50,1i erkektir Katılımcıların ortalama FLUUSQ puanı 6.202,81dir Aralık: 0-10. Yaşı 35ten küçük p0,005, bekâr p0,001, ön lisans ve üzeri eğitim almış p0,000 ve daha önce beslenme eğitimi almış p0,000 katılımcıların ortalama FLUUSQ puanları istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede daha yüksektir. FLUUSQ puanları ile katılımcıların alışveriş tercihleri, besin etiketi kullanma sıklıkları ve besin etiketi bilgilerini okuma süreleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark vardı p0,05. Besin etiketlerini beslenme p0,000 ve sağlık p0,012 ihtiyaçları için kullananların, beslenme iddiasını kullananların p0,001 ve besin etiketindeki bilgileri anlayanların p0,002 ortalama FLUUSQ puanları anlamlı derecede daha yüksektir. Tüketicilerin besin etiketini kullanma ve anlama becerisi orta düzeyin üzerinde bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Tüketicilerin besin etiketlerini kullanma ve anlama becerileri yaş, eğitim, beslenme bilgisi ve etiket kullanım alışkanlıkları gibi faktörlerden önemli ölçüde etkilenmiştir. Tüketicilerin bilinçli beslenme tercihleri yapabilmelerini sağlamak için beslenme eğitiminin güçlendirilmesi ve besin etiketlemesi konusunda farkındalığın artırılması önerilmektedir.

Article Details

Evaluation of Consumers' Ability to Use and Understand Food Labels

Authors:

Güldane Yıldırım | Muhammet Ali Çakır

Publisher:

İstanbul Gelisim University

Main Topics:

Beslenme Bilimi | Gıda Özellikleri | Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi | Hayvansal Üretim (Diğer)

Journal:

İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Issue 25, pp.140-152

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346557

pISSN:

2536-4499

Food label

nutrition information

consumer researchBesin etiketi

beslenme bilgisi

tüketici araştırması

Issues

Article Details

Evaluation of Consumers' Ability to Use and Understand Food Labels

Authors: Güldane Yıldırım | Muhammet Ali Çakır

Publisher: İstanbul Gelisim University

Main Topics: Beslenme Bilimi | Gıda Özellikleri | Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi | Hayvansal Üretim (Diğer)

Journal: İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Issue 25, pp.140-152

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001346557

pISSN: 2536-4499

Food label

nutrition information

consumer researchBesin etiketi

beslenme bilgisi

tüketici araştırması

Issues

Authors:

Güldane Yıldırım | Muhammet Ali Çakır

Publisher:

İstanbul Gelisim University

Main Topics:

Beslenme Bilimi | Gıda Özellikleri | Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi | Hayvansal Üretim (Diğer)

Journal:

İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Issue 25, pp.140-152

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346557

pISSN:

2536-4499