Perceived nutrition literacy on ultra-processed food and food labelling among adolescents and adults – a result from community service activity

Abstract

Purpose Awareness and literacy regarding nutritional facts, as well as behaviour in reading front-of-pack labelling, are still lacking in Indonesia. This study aims to increase awareness and knowledge towards food labelling and ultra-processed food (UPF) in the community. Design/methodology/approach This was a community service activity involving 33 adults aged 14–45 years. The activity was conducted through a sequence of pre-test, nutrition education focusing on food labelling (first session) and UPF (second session), and post-test. A set of 15 questions consisting of 13 multiple-choices and 2 exploratory questions was used to collect information from respondents. Data was analysed using a paired t-test, whereas qualitative data was analysed using a thematic approach. Findings After receiving the two sessions of education, participants’ knowledge increased 11.55 points (pre-test vs post-test mean ± SE 76.90 ± 0.28 vs 88.45 ± 0.19; p < 0.001). The top five UPF products frequently consumed by participants were snacks (both sweets and savoury), instant noodles, canned food, beverages, mainly sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and bread and frozen foods. From the participants’ perspective, instead of prohibiting UPF advertisement, conducting food and nutrition sustainable education is more important to control UPF intake. Research limitations/implications This study has both strengths and limitations. The findings of this activity represent the real evidence of food and nutrition-related phenomena in the community. Equally important, nutrition education topics were comprehensive and based on recent evidence. Nevertheless, as a community service activity, the findings were more straightforward and did not involve as many participants. Additionally, the post-education assessment took place immediately after the session, but there was no follow-up evaluation to determine whether participants retained the knowledge or had changed their behaviours. Practical implications Therefore, advanced research is highly encouraged to explore the impact of UPF advertising on food choice preferences and consumption. Additionally, there is also a need to develop an ideal nutrition education kit that focuses on reading food labels and understanding UPF. Evaluating social-behavioural changes related to UPF following a comprehensive nutrition training programme is another crucial issue for research. Furthermore, assessing the initiation and implications of implementing SSB taxes in Indonesia is essential for understanding their potential effects. Originality/value Nutrition education significantly enhances adults’ knowledge of food labelling and UPF. Instead of banning UPF marketing, most participants favoured a sustainable approach involving continuous education to reduce UPF consumption.