Knowledge and Practices of Using Food Label Information Among Adolescents Attending Schools in Kolkata, India

Saha, Snehasree; Vemula, Sudershan Rao; Mendu, Vishnu Vardhana Rao; Gavaravarapu, SubbaRao M.

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2013.07.011

Cited by 45 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-6 in USA, less than 25 % of adolescents used food labels during food purchase [ 14 ], while it was 37.8 % among female university students in Korea [ 24 ] and 31.3 % in another study among students in Louisiana [ 25 ]. In contrast, one study conducted in Kolkata, India among schooling adolescents showed that 88 % of them read food labels [ 26 ]. In comparison, the majority in our study read labels ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of food labels by adolescents to make healthier choices on snacks: a cross-sectional study from Sri Lanka

Talagala

Arambepola

2016

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundUnhealthy snacking is commonly seen among adolescents. Therefore, use of food labels is promoted for making healthier choices on packaged snacks. This study was conducted to assess the use of food labels in making choices on packaged snack and its associated factors among adolescents.MethodsA cross–sectional study was conducted in 2012 among 542 Grade 12 students in Sri Lanka. Eight classes were selected as ‘clusters’ for the study (two classes each from two schools that were selected randomly from each list of ‘Girls only’ and ‘Boys only’ schools in Colombo district). A self-administered questionnaire assessed their socio-demography, snacking behaviour, attitudes and nutrition knowledge related to food labels. Adolescents’ use of labels was assessed by three practices (label reading frequency, attention paid to label contents and correct interpretation of six hypothetical labels of snacks). Based on total scores obtained for the three practices, ‘satisfactory’ (score ≥75th percentile mark) and ‘unsatisfactory’ (score <75th percentile mark) label users were identified. Using SPSS, associations were assessed at 0.05 significance level using Chi-square-test.ResultsOf the participants, 51 % were males; 61 % spent their pocket money at least once/week on packaged snacks; predominantly on biscuits (85 %) and cola-drinks (77 %) and 88 % selected snacks on their own. The majority (74.5 %) was frequent (‘always’ or ‘most often’) label readers with female predominance (p < 0.05). Over 74 % paid attention frequently to the brand name (75 %), price (85 %) and nutrition panel (81 %). Over 64 % were able to select the better food label when given a choice between two snacks, although some did it for reasons such as attractive label (63 %). The majority (84 %) had good knowledge (obtaining more than the 75th percentile mark) on interpreting labels.Although not statistically significant, ‘unsatisfactory’ label use was higher among males (73 %), purchasing power (70.4 %) and unhealthy snacking behaviour (73 %). In contrast, among the marketing strategies, identifying known brands (73.2 %) and imported products (75.8 %) as ‘good’ products were significantly associated with ‘unsatisfactory’ label use (p < 0.05).ConclusionsDespite having good knowledge and positive attitudes, food label use is unsatisfactory among adolescents. Skills in reading labels should be addressed in the ‘School canteen policy’ in Sri Lanka.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of food labels by adolescents to make healthier choices on snacks: a cross-sectional study from Sri Lanka

Talagala

Arambepola

2016

BMC Public Health

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“…The majority of studies in this area have examined only adolescents' awareness of nutrition labels (15,16) . In particular, these studies have found that adolescents may have trouble understanding nutrition labels, which may lead to non-use (15,16) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices is associated with healthier dietary behaviours in adolescents

Haidar¹,

Carey²,

Ranjit³

et al. 2017

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: The study aimed to examine nutrition label use and dietary behaviours among ethnically diverse middle-and high-school students, in Texas, USA. Design: The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey is a cross-sectional statewide study using a self-administered questionnaire to assess nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Height and weight measurements were used to determine BMI. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine associations between nutrition label use and dietary behaviours, with gender, grade, ethnicity, BMI, parent education, socio-economic status and nutrition knowledge as covariates. Setting: Participants from 283 schools, weighted to represent Texas youth. Subjects: SPAN 2009-2011 included 6716 8th and 11th graders (3465 girls and 3251 boys). The study population consisted of 39·83 % White/Other, 14·61 % AfricanAmerican and 45·56 % Hispanic adolescents; with a mean age of 14·9 years, and 61·95 % at a healthy weight, 15·71 % having overweight and 22·34 % having obesity. Results: Adolescents who did not use nutrition labels had 1·69 times greater odds of consuming ≥1 sugary beverages/d (P < 0·05). Adolescents who used nutrition labels had 2·13 times greater odds of consuming ≥1 fruits and vegetables/d (P < 0·05). Adolescents who used nutrition labels had significantly higher healthy eating scores than those who did not (P < 0·001). For every 1-point increase in nutrition knowledge, adolescents had 1·22 greater odds of using nutrition labels. Conclusions: Nutrition label use is associated with healthier dietary behaviours in adolescents. Intervention strategies for youth should include efforts to teach adolescents to use labels to make healthy food choices.

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“…People who considered nutrition labeling felt that the nutritional information was reliable and useful when selecting meals [ 39 ]. However, people who did not consider nutrition labeling regarded nutritional information as being complex and difficult to understand [ 40 41 ]. These results support the necessity of nutrition education to cultivate parental nutritional knowledge to maximize the effectiveness of the mandatory nutritional information disclosure at fast-food restaurants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of providing nutritional information about fast-food restaurant menus on parents' meal choices for their children

et al. 2015

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESTo encourage healthier food choices for children in fast-food restaurants, many initiatives have been proposed. This study aimed to examine the effect of disclosing nutritional information on parents' meal choices for their children at fast-food restaurants in South Korea.SUBJECTS/METHODSAn online experimental survey using a menu board was conducted with 242 parents of children aged 2-12 years who dined with them at fast-food restaurants at least once a month. Participants were classified into two groups: the low-calorie group (n = 41) who chose at least one of the lowest calorie meals in each menu category, and the high-calorie group (n = 201) who did not. The attributes including perceived empowerment, use of provided nutritional information, and perceived difficulties were compared between the two groups.RESULTSThe low-calorie group perceived significantly higher empowerment with the nutritional information provided than did the high-calorie group (P = 0.020). Additionally, the low-calorie group was more interested in nutrition labeling (P < 0.001) and considered the nutritional value of menus when selecting restaurants for their children more than did the high-calorie group (P = 0.017). The low-calorie group used the nutritional information provided when choosing meals for their children significantly more than did the high-calorie group (P < 0.001), but the high-calorie group had greater difficulty using the nutritional information provided (P = 0.012).CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that improving the empowerment of parents using nutritional information could be a strategy for promoting healthier parental food choices for their children at fast-food restaurants.

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Knowledge and Practices of Using Food Label Information Among Adolescents Attending Schools in Kolkata, India

Cited by 45 publications

References 20 publications

Use of food labels by adolescents to make healthier choices on snacks: a cross-sectional study from Sri Lanka

Use of food labels by adolescents to make healthier choices on snacks: a cross-sectional study from Sri Lanka

Self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices is associated with healthier dietary behaviours in adolescents

The effect of providing nutritional information about fast-food restaurant menus on parents' meal choices for their children

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