De la Cruz-Góngora V, Villalpando S, Rodríguez-Oliveros G, Castillo-García M, Mundo-Rosas V, Meneses-Navarro S

Language: English
References: 24
Page: 158-166
PDF size: 131.22 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objective. To assess the use and understanding of the Nutritional information Panel (NIP) of pre-packaged foods by Mexican consumers. Materials and methods. A questionnaire and an understanding test for NIP were applied to adult consumers in supermarkets of six cities in the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of Mexico. Data were analyzed by frequencies and Poisson regression models. Results. Interviewed 731 consumers; 71.5% were women, mean age 33 ± 9.7 (range: 18-60), 70% completed high-school or a higher degree. In total, 17% of consumers use the NIP for making purchase decisions; 49% did not understand the NIP. Only 1.2% of consumers answered correctly the five questions of the NIP understanding test. Conclusions. The use and understanding of the NIP are low despite a high proportion self-reported reading and understanding. The lack of previous knowledge of the technical language prevents use and interpretation of NIP nutritional information for purchasing decisions.

REFERENCES

1. Van den Wijngaart AW. Nutrition labelling: purpose, scientific issues and challenges. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002; 11(2): S68-S71.

2. Cowburn G, Stockley L. A systematic review of the research on consumer understanding of nutrition labelling. Brussels: European Heart Network, 2003.

3. Satia JA, Galanko JA, Neuhouser ML. Food nutrition label use is associated with demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors and dietary intake among African Americans in North Carolina. J Am Diet Assoc 2005; 105(3): 392-402.

4. Lin CT, Lee JY, Yen ST. Do dietary intakes affect search for nutrient information on food labels? Soc Sci Med 2004; 59(9): 1955-1967.

5. Neuhouser ML, Kristal AR, Patterson RE. Use of food nutrition labels is associated with lower fat intake. J Am Diet Assoc 1999; 99(1): 45-53.

6. Variyam JN. Do nutrition labels improve dietary outcomes? Health Econ 2008; 17(6): 695-708.

7. Guthrie J, Fox J, Cleveland L, Welsh S. Who uses nutrition labeling, and what effects does label use have on diet quality? J Nutr Educ 1995; 27 (4): 163-172.

8. Kreuter MW, Brennan LK, Scharff DP, Lukwago SN. Do nutrition label readers eat healthier diets? Behavioral correlates of adults’ use of food labels. Am J Prev Med 1997; 13(4): 277-283.

9. Drichoutis AC, Panagiotis L, Rodolfo M. Nayga J. Consumers’ Use of Nutritional Labels: A Review of Research Studies and Issues. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 2006. 9: p. [Accessed 2009 August] Available at: http://www.amsreview.org/articles/drichoutis09-2006.pdf

10. Cowburn G, Stockley L. Consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr 2005; 8(1): 21-28.

11. Drichoutis AC, Lazaridis P, Nayga RM, Jr. An assessment of product class involvement in food purchasing behaviour. Eur J Mark 2007; 41:7/8: 888-914

12. Fitzgerald N, Damio G, Segura-Perez S, Perez-Escamilla R. Nutrition knowledge, food label use, and food intake patterns among Latinas with and without type 2 diabetes. J Am Diet Assoc 2008; 108(6): 960-967.

13. Boden M, Dadswell R, Hattersley S. Review of statutory and voluntary labelling of food allergens. Proc Nutr Soc 2005; 64(4): 475-480.

14. Hearty AP, McCarthy SN, Kearney JM, Gibney MJ. Relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and dietary behaviour, lifestyle and demographic factors in a representative sample of Irish adults. Appetite 2007; 48(1): 1-11.

15. Grunert K, Wills J. A review of European research on consumer response to nutrition information on food labels. J Public Health 2007; 15(5): 385-399.

16. Gorton D, Ni Mhurchu C, Chen MH, Dixon R. Nutrition labels: a survey of use, understanding and preferences among ethnically diverse shoppers in New Zealand. Public Health Nutr 2009; 12(9): 1359-1365.

17. Krukowski RA, Harvey-Berino J, Kolodinsky J, Narsana RT, Desisto TP. Consumers may not use or understand calorie labeling in restaurants. J Am Diet Assoc 2006; 106(6): 917-920.

18. International Food Information Council Foundation 2010 Food & Health Survey. Consumer Attitudes Toward Food Safety, Nutrition, & Health2010. [Accessed March 3 2011]. Available at: http://www.foodinsight.org/Content/3651/2010FinalFullReport.pdf.

19. Mannell A, Brevard P, Nayga P, Combris P, Lee R, Gloeckner J. French consumers’ use of nutrition labels. Nutrition & Food Science 2006; 36: 159-168.

20. Byrd-Bredbenner C, Alfieri L, Kiefer L. The nutrition label knowledge and usage behaviours of women in the US. Nutr Bull 2000; 25: 315-322.

21. Petersen T. A Comment on Presenting Results from Logit and Probit Models. American Sociological Review 1985(1): 130-131.

22. Zelner BA. Using simulation to interpret results from logit, probit, and other nonlinear models. Strategic Management Journal 2009; 30: 1335-1348.

23. Williams P. Consumer understanding and use of health claims for foods. Nutr Rev 2005; 63(7): 256-264.

24. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (México). México de un vistazo 2009/Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía.-México: INEGI 2009. [Accessed January 20 2010]. Available at: .