Residents' knowledge of food nutrition labels and its impact factors in Jinshan District of Shanghai

ObjectiveTo investigate the use of food nutrition labels on the pre-packed food and its related factors among residents in Jinshan District, and to provide evidence for making appropriate nutritional intervention.

MethodsMultistage stratified random sampling was adopted, and questionnaire survey was administered to investigate 660 residents about their awareness, usage and related information on nutrition labels on the pre-packed food.

ResultsThe awareness rate and recognition rate of nutrition label on pre-packaged food were 62.0% and 76.8%.And the higher proportion of residents' awareness rate and recognition rate in nutrition label were found in those of lower age or higher level of education.Only 41.5% of the residents were able to understand nutrition information correctly, 35.0% of the residents would like to read nutrition label when choosing food; main reasons for ignoring nutrition labels were lack of understanding (35.9%) and the brand selection habits (27.7%).The reason for not using labels among the subjects of low education, advanced age and having chronic history was lack of understanding (42.6%, 42.5%, 42.2%, respectively), however, the subjects of higher education, younger age, and without chronic disease always chose food of customary brands and showed little concern about the label(41.3%, 37.9% and 32.7%, respectively).

ConclusionThe residents' understanding and application of the nutritional label was lower than their awareness level of nutrition label.The reasons for not using nutrition label varied among different groups of people; Targeted health education and publicity should be carried out to guide the residents to use nutrition labels scientifically.