This study examined the influence of demographic characteristics, perception of food risks and health information literacy on the use of food product information among 561 female staff in eight State Universities in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that age, perceived risks and health information literacy were the factors that influence the use or non-use of food product information among the respondents. Women who are above 50 years are more likely to use food product information in consumption decisions than younger women. Furthermore, the respondents showed high perception of food risks; however, about half of them have optimistic bias towards the hazards of eating unwholesome packaged foods. The study therefore recommends that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) embark on aggressive awareness campaigns on the health hazards associated with eating unwholesome packaged food, targeting younger female workers in Nigerian State Universities. Public health experts, librarians and other information professionals should also embark on enlightenment programmes for the public and the academic community. This study complements an earlier study which examined the use of various types of food product information in consumption of packaged foods among the same population.Keywords food product information, health information literacy, packaged foods, women, NigeriaHealth information literacy has a positive effect on the habit of using food product information in consumption decisions.Background

The use of food product information is a globally acknowledged food safety measure. This study surveyed the use of food product information as a determinant of consumption of packaged foods among 561 female academic and non-academic staff of eight state universities in Nigeria using the multi-stage random sampling technique. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistic and binary logistic regression. The findings showed that the use of food product information is a determinant of consumption of packaged foods among the respondents; however, the majority based their consumption decisions on the availability of a National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) registration number. The study concludes that female workers in Nigerian state universities are not taking full advantage of all the food product information available on packaged foods and therefore recommends that NAFDAC intensifies awareness campaigns on the importance of using all food product information available on packaged foods. Also, information professionals should collaborate with public health experts to organize seminars and conferences to further enlighten the public and members of the academic community on the usefulness of this food safety measure.