a survey on perception of food labels among the population...

American Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

2018; 5(1): 1-16

http://www.aascit.org/journal/ajfsn

ISSN: 2375-3935

A Survey on Perception of Food Labels Among the Population of Nellore District

Mahesh Jadapalli, Silpa Somavarapu*

Department of Food Technology, Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore, India

Email address [email protected] (S. Somavarapu) *Corresponding author

Citation Mahesh Jadapalli, Silpa Somavarapu. A Survey on Perception of Food Labels Among the Population of Nellore District. American Journal

of Food Science and Nutrition. Vol. 5, No. 1, 2018, pp. 1-16.

Received: January 7, 2018; Accepted: January 26, 2018; Published: February 12, 2018

Abstract: The study focused on consumer knowledge of Nutrition food label information among consumers in Nellore

district, their perception on the importance of such information and difficulties encountered in reading and using pre packaged

food labels. It was a survey design. This study was conducted from February to March, 2016. A questionnaire with 16

questions was used to collect information from 100 consumers who were found purchasing pre- packaged foods in selected

supermarkets. The obtained data were computed to determine relationships and associations between various factors and the

use of food labelling information among consumers in the area of study. Version 20.0 of the SPSS Program was utilized in all

the statistical analysis undertaken in this study and the Chi-square test was conducted for variables. Awareness and use of pre-

packaged food labelling information was found to be lowamong consumers in Nellore District. Findings showed that only a

quarter of the study respondents had high awareness on food labelling. Health concerns, religious beliefs and the need to know

characteristics of food, motivate consumers to read pre packaged food labels. Difficulties encountered in reading food labels

included small font sizes, use of scientific and technical language as well as the use of unfamiliar language. Circumstances in

which consumers purchase pre-packaged food without consulting the respective labels include time constraint and purchase of

routine food products. Awareness and use of pre-packaged food labelling information was significantly associated with age,

occupation and education level of respondents. People who read food labels concentrated on ingredients and expiry. It is

therefore recommended that deliberate efforts should be taken to improve foodlabelling, provide education to consumers to

raise their awareness and use of food labelling information as well as develop a consumer guide on food labelling. This can

definitely lead to healthy society.

Keywords: Consumers, Food Labeling, Healthy Society, Respondents, Nutrition

1. Introduction

Consumers in the past consumed mostly fresh farm

produce with little or no processing. Today eating habits and

dietary intakes are changing rapidly in the urban and rural

areas as a result of development. The increase in the intake of

fats, refined sugars and salt are leading to imbalanced

nutrition and over nutrition [1]. The high urbanization rate,

modern technology and industrialization of the food chain in

particular, under the influence of Westernization and

globalization are increasing the speed of these changes. Also

the increased capacity to store food safely without the need

for drying or salting facilitated the extension of the food

supply chain from the farm to the urban [2].

Chemical substances are now being added to foods in

order to make them into the vast array of processed foods

available in the market [3]. These chemical additives include

colouring, preservative, antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilizers,

anti-caking agents and flavour enhancers. These help to make

processed foods smaller in size and taste better, as well as

improve their shelf life. Moreover, industrialization of the

food chain has changed the macronutrient composition of the

diet, which is now much energy dense. The type of

carbohydrate in the diet has changed, with decreases in

complex carbohydrates such as starches and increase in

refined sugar [4]. However, it has been observed that food

affects the level of physical, mental and social well-being of

individuals [5].

2 Mahesh Jadapalli and Silpa Somavarapu: A Survey on Perception of Food Labels Among the Population of Nellore District

According to Buttress et al. (2004), one of the major health

challenges is to identify ways to help consumers making the

appropriate food choices. In 2004, World Health

Organization (WHO) had recommended that nutritional label

was one of the stategies to assist the public in making

healthier food choice. As consumers have become

increasingly concerned about what they eat and how it affects

their health, the food industry has responded by providing

more detailed nutrition information on their food labels [6].

Nutrition food label

Nutrition food label is the information written on the back

of cans and packets of processed foods [7]. According to

Codex Alimentarus Commission, (2002) nutrition labeling is

a description intended to inform the consumer of the

nutritional properties of food, and includes a declaration of

the nutrient content of the food as well as supplementary

nutrition information. Codex (2002) [8] observed that there

are essentially two components of food labeling that can

inform a consumer of choice of foods and potentially impact

on diet related chronic disease, these are nutrition claims and

health claims. Also nutrition claims are those use on labels

which make an assertion about a particular nutritional

property of a food. While health claims maintain that there is

a relationship between a specific and improved health, and

that a food can reduce the risk of a particular disease [9].

Nowadays, the consumer faces many problems like choice,

selection availability and utilization, as a result of the great

varieties of new products in the market which compete for

the low income workers scarce resources. Nutrition labels on

pre-packaged foods are among the most prominent sources of

nutrition information. Nutrition labels are perceived as a

highly credible source of information and many consumers

use nutrition labels to guide their selection of food products.

However, the use of labels varies considerably across

subgroups, with lower use among children, adolescents and

older adults who are obese. Research also highlights

challenges in terms of consumer understanding and

appropriate use of labelling information.

Food label information assists consumers to better

understand the nutritional value of food and enables them to

compare the nutritional values of similar food products and

to make healthy informed food choices based on the relevant

nutrition information [10]. The ability to choose pre

packaged food based on information obtained on its label

requires knowledge and ability to read understand and

interpret the information [11].

Defining Nutritional Label

According to Koe (1997), nutritional label can be defined

as a description used to inform the customer about the

nutritional properties of a food, which also help the customer

in purchasing nutritious food and consuming nutritionally

balanced meals. Besides, according to Centre for Food Safety

in Hong Kong (Source: www.cfs.gov.hk), nutritional label is

a systematic way of presenting nutrition information of food

product. It is presented in a tabular format with headings

such as “nutrition information”, “nutrition fact’, or “nutrition

label”. The nutritional label is required as a guide for the

consumer to make selection from a list of food products and

to encourage the consumption of healthy products [12]. In

Malaysia, referring to Malaysia Dietary guidelines in 2007

(Ministry of Health Malaysia, 2007) the terminologies of

nutritional label are defined as follows:

a) Food labels. Food labels include any tag, brand, mark,

pictorial or other descriptive matter, written, printed,

stencilled, marked, painted, embossed or impressed on, or

attached to or included in, belonging to, or accompanying

any food.

b) Nutrition information panel. A table found in one

section of a food label declaring the amount of nutrients

contained in the foods.

c) Nutritional label. A nutritional label is a list of nutrient

level of a product displayed on the food label. It is meant to

provide the salient facts about the nutrition contents of the

product. According to the Centre for Food Safety in Hong

Kong (Source: www.cfs.gov.hk), nutrient value in the

nutritional label will be presented in various reference

amounts such as per 100 g/mL, per serving and per package.

Types of Nutritional Labels

There are two types of nutritional label formats. In

Malaysia, back-of-pack nutritional label is a common format

that has been used by the food and beverage industries in

representing the nutrition contents in their food products.

According to the previous researches that had been done in

Europe, United State, Australia and New Zealand, the

findings concluded that majority of the consumers found out

that back-of-pack nutritional labels were confusing,

especially on the numerical information and the terminology

used [13, 14, 15, 16].

The Role of Nutritional Label in Customer Buying

American Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 2018; 5(1): 1-16 3

Decision Process

Nutritional label can simplify the whole concept of healthy

diet because it helps the customers to keep track on the intake

nutrients such as the amount of fat and sugar, sodium and

fiber, protein and carbohydrates. It also assists consumers to

make an informed judgement of a product's overall value.

(Asian Productivity Organization, 2002). Nowadays,

customer is concerned not only on the appearance of the

products but also on the nutritional information in the

packaged food sold at retail outlets [17]. By providing a

nutritional label, it will assistthe customer in making

healthier choice [18, 19, 20, 21].

Consistent link between the use of nutrition labels and

healthier diets.

Nutrition labelling on food products has emerged as a

prominent policy tool for promoting healthy eating. As a

health education intervention, mandatory nutritionlabels have

broad reach and are present at the point of purchase, as well

as when food is prepared or consumed [22]. The display of

nutritional information on pre-packaged foods is mandatory

in most high-income countries. In the USA, the Nutrition

Labelling and Education Act of 1990 mandates that pre-

packaged foods carry a nutrition label, with exceptions for

foods intended for immediate consumption [23].

Label users are also more likely to eat healthier varieties of

foods, and to have reduced Na, cholesterol and energy

intakes, coupled with increased fibre, Fe and vitamin C

intakes. Cross-sectional associations between label use and

healthier diets are also related to socio-economic status,

education, age gender and ethnicity/race.

Age

A majority of studies found that middle-aged or younger

adults were more likely to use nutrition labels than were

older individuals [24].

Gender

Women report using labels significantly more often than

men in a majority of studies that include both genders [25].

Income/education

Most studies have concluded that individuals with lower

income are less likely to use nutrition labels [26].

Racial/ethnic

These differences have also been observed with respect to

the type of information sought from nutrition labels [27].

Attitudes/perceptions towards nutrition labels

Many consumers have reported that nutrition labels are an

important source of information, although ingredients and

health claims may be perceived as more important. Most

consumers were willing to use information if it was provided

on the label, although consumers’ beliefs about the

healthiness of foods did not necessarily depend on

information on the label. There was, however, popular

support for mandatory labelling in studies, although

conflicting findings have been found for consumers’

willingness to pay extra for nutrition information. Positive

attitudes were higher among individuals reporting greater use

of labels; however, negative attitudes were also prevalent in

the literature. Many consumers believed that serving sizes

and health claims were misleading and were sceptical of the

compliance of labels to regulatory law. The credibility of

manufacturers’ health claims was rated poorly, especially

when these claims contradicted nutrition information on the

label [28, 29] however, in one case, health claims helped

consumers to choose more nutritious products [30]. Trust in

labels also predicted use, and was greater among younger

respondents and among those with higher levels of education.

Nutritional attributes can be defined as credence attributes

[31, 32, 33] but can be transformed into search attributes

once nutritional information is provided. Consumers, food

processors, and thirdparty entities all play a role in

determining which of a food’s many attributes are described

on food labels. Policy interventions can be traced back as far

as the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and

Health in 1969 [34]. The Nutrition, Labeling, and Education

Act (NLEA) of 1990 then gave the FDA the authority to

require nutritional labeling for most food products. As a

result, NFPs were implemented to improve consumers’

access to nutritional information and to promote healthy food

choices. There is a large literature investigating consumer

demand and the use of nutritional labels. Yet evidence on

whether this objective has been achieved has been mixed.

Conceptual framework of factors related to consumers not

using food labelling information in decision making during

purchasing of food.

Objectives

a. To determine level of awareness of the information of

nutrition food labels among consumers in Nellore

district.

b. To determine perceptions on the importance of pre-

packaged food labelling information among consumers.

c. To determine factors associated with reading pre

packaged food labels among consumers.

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Research Design

The research design is the blueprint for the fulfillment of

objectives and answering questions. It is a master plan

specifying the method and procedures for collecting and

analyzing needed information.

2.1.1. Descriptive Research

Descriptive Research is used in this study as the main aim is

to describe characteristics of the phenomenon or a situation.

2.1.2. Descriptive Research Design

Descriptive research design is a scientific method which

involves observing and describing the behavior of a subject

without influencing it in any way. The importance of

descriptive research is:

a. To describe characteristics of a population or a

phenomenon.

b. To determine the answers to who, what, when, where

and how questions.

c. To analyze the segment and target markets.


2.2. Sampling Technique Used

This research has used convenience sampling technique.

Convenience sampling is used in exploratory research where

the researcher is interested in getting an inexpensive

approximation of the truth. As the name implies, the sample

is selected because they are convenient.

2.3. Sources of Data Collection

Research will be based on two sources:

a. Primary data

b. Secondary data

2.3.1. Primary Data

Questionnaire: Primary data was collected by preparing

questionnaire and the people were randomly being requested

to fill them.

Inclusion criteria: The survey included 100 people both

male and female, educated and uneducated and with different

levels of income.

2.3.2. Secondary Data

Secondary data will consist of different literatures like

books which are published, articles, internet and websites.

In order to reach relevant conclusion, research work

needed to be designed in a proper way.

2.4. Study Area

Data has been collected from individuals at different super

markets in different areas of Nellore district during the period

02nd

February to 30th

March 2016.

The responses were recorded and the data file is prepared.

100 respondents were questions at six super marketsin the

following areas of Nellore district.

a. 20 Samples in Reliance Hypermarket Ltd, K.V.R Petrol

bunk.

b. 20 Samples in Nagalakshmi Supermarket, Nawabpet.

c. 20 Samples in More For You, G K Imperial Towers.

d. 20 Samples in Sri Lakshmi Sai Mini Supermarket,

Beside Adithya College.

e. 20 Samples near, Nanda provisions, Dargamitta.

f. 20 Samples near, Vah Magna [FoodEx], Trendset

Towers, Ramalingapuram, Main Road, Nellore-524001.

2.5. Selection of Sample Size

For the study, a sample size of 100 has been taken into

consideration includingboth male and female, educated and

uneducated and with different levels of income.

2.6. Statistical Tools Used

The main statistical tools used for the analyses of data in

this project are:

a. Pie Charts

b. Bar Diagrams

3. Results

Analysis and Interpration

Analysis:

Analysis means a critical examination of the assembled

and grouped data for studying the characteristics of the object

under study and it refers to methodical classification of the

data give in the tables.

Interpretation:

The term interpretation means explaining the meaning and

significance of the arranged data. It is the study of

relationship between the various factors. It is being

considered as a basic component of research process because

of the following reasons.

Q1. Gender of the respondents in the survey?

Table 1. Gender of the respondents.

Gender Frequency

Male 44

Female 56

Total 100

Figure 1. Gender of the respondents.

Analysis:

From the survey it was found that amongst 100

respondents 44% are male and 56% are female.

Q2. Education of the respondents in the survey?

Table 2. Education of the respondents.

Educational level Frequency

No formal education 16

Primary complete 2

Primary incompleted 14

Secondary education 18

College/university 50

Total 100


Figure 2. Education of the respondents.

Analysis:


respondents 16% of the people are not having any formal

education, 2% are in primary completed stage, 14% are

primary incompleted, 18% have completed secondary

education and 50% are with an education college/university.

Q3. What is your occupation?

Table 3. Occupation of the respondents.

Occupation Frequency

Employed 22

Business 21

Housewife 14

Peasant 2

Others 41

Total 100

Figure 3. Occupation of the respondents.


Analysis:

From the survey it was found that amongst 100 respondents

22% are employed, 21% are doing business, 14% are

housewife, 2% are peasants and 41% are doing other works.

AWARENESS ON THE BASIC PRE-PACKAGED

FOOD LABELLING INFORMATION

Q1. How much of food shopping do you do for your

households?

Table 4. Percentage of household food items of your family brought by you.

Food shopping for the household Frequency

All 31

Most 28

Little 34

None 7

Total 100

Figure 4. Percentage of household food items of your family brought by you.

Analysis:


respondents 31% of the people do all their food shopping for

their households, 28% are mostly do their shopping, 34%will

do a little shopping and 7% are not doing any shopping.

Q2. When you buy food products how often do you read

the lables on packages?

Table 5. Frequency of observing the food labels.

How often food labels are read Frequency

Always 23

Often 20

Rarely 27

Sometimes 19

Never 9

Total 100

Figure 5. Frequency of observing the food labels.


Analysis:


respondents 23% of the people always buy the food products

after reading the labels on packages, 20% will read oftenly,

27% will read rarely, 19% will read sometimes and 9% of the

people don’t read the labels on packages.

Q3. How understandable do you find the information

about the content on labels of food packages?

Table 6. Understanding ability of the food label.

Undestanding ability Frequencies

Very easy 44

Somewhat easy 23

Very hard 15

Somewhat hard 18

Total 100

Figure 6. Understanding ability of the food label.

Analysis:


respondents 44% of the people think its very easy to

understand the labels on packages, 23% think some what

easy, 15%think its very hard, 18% think somewhat hard.

Q4. What is your feeling on the amount of information on

labels?

Table 7. Feeling on the amount of information on labels.

Amount of information on food labels Frequency

Too much 28

Right amount 33

Not enough 20

No opinion 19

Total 100

Figure 7. Feeling on the amount of information on labels.


Analysis:


respondents 28% of the people feel amount of information on

labels are too much, 33% feel that’s the right amount, 20%

think its not enough and 19% people don’t have any opinion.

Q5. How much influence does this content information

have on your buying decision?

Table 8. Influence of food label on your buying decision.

Does food label influence your buying decision Frequency

A great deal of influence 24

A fair amount of influence 13

Some influence 27

Little influence 27

No influence 9

Total 100

Figure 8. Influence of food label on your buying decision.

Analysis:


respondents 24% people have a great deal of influence when

buying, 13% are having a fair amount of influence, 27% have

some influence, 27% have a little influence and 9% have no

influence in it.

Q6. Which of the following terms are you most familiar

with in relation to the basic information found on

prepackaged food labels?

Table 9. Most familiar terms on prepackaged food labels.

Useful information on food labels Frequency

List of ingredients 18

Net content 12

Name of the manufacturer 19

Country of origin 11

Batch/lot identification 2

Manufacture date 10

Expiry date 19

Storage condition 3

Nutrition information 3

Instructions for use 3

Total 100

Figure 9. Most familiar terms on prepackaged food labels.


Analysis:

From the survey it was found that amongst 100 respondents

majority of the people look at the food label for knowing the

expiry date or the name of the manufacturer followed by list of

ingradients, net content, place of manufacture, manufacture

date, storage, nutrition and usage information etc.

Q7. How important do you consider food labeling

information to be?

Table 10. Importance of food labeling information.

Food label information is Frequency

Very important 60

Somewhat important 20

Minimally important 11

Not important 9

Total 100

Figure 10. Importance of food labeling information.

Analysis:


respondents 60% people of the people feel food labeling is

very important, 20% feel its some what important, 11% feel

its minimally important, 9% are feeling its not important.

Q8. Why you do not read the food labeling every time

when you first purchase a prepackaged food product?

Table 11. Reasons for not reading food labels.

Reasons for not reading food labels Frequency

Time consuming 28

I do not understand it 17

Cannot find where the label is 12

Labels are too small 17

Do not have this habit 17

There is no need to do so 7

Others 2

Total 100

Figure 11. Reasons for not reading food labels.


Analysis:


respondents 28% of the people donot read food labeling

everytime because its time consuming, 17%for they don’t

understand that, 12% can’t find where the label is, 17% feels

labels are too small, 17% don’t have this habit, 7% feel there

is no need to do so and 2% people have other opinion.

Q9. What do you look for in reading the labels?

Table 12. Reason for reading the food label.

Which information on the label is very important Frequency

Ingredient 38

Energy value 26

Carbohydrate content (including sugar) 12

Protein content 13

Fat content (trans fat and saturated fat) 11

Sodium content (salt) 0

Others 0

Total 100

Figure 12. Reason for reading the food label.

Analysis:


respondents 38% people look for ingredients on the food

labels, 26% for energy value, 12% for carbohydrate content,

13% for protein content and 11% for fat content.

Q10. To what extent do you agree that reading the food

nutrition labels can help you make informed food choices?

Table 13. Reading the food nutrition labels can help you make informed food

choices.

Do you agree with reading a food label Frequency

Totally agree 40

Partially agree 16

Neutral 23

Partially disagree 12

Totally disagree 9

Total 100

Figure 13. Reading the food nutrition labels can help you make informed food choices.


Analysis:


respondents 40% of the people agree that food nutrition label

can help to make food choices, 16% partially agree this, 23%

are neutral, 12% people partially disagree this and 9% totally

disagree that food nutrition label can help to make food

choices.

Q11. Reasons for reading nutrition information on food

packages?

Table 14. Reasons for reading nutrition information on food packages.

Reasons for reading nutrition information Frequency

Percent product comparisons 29

Curiosity 16

Advice from nutrition counselling 22

Family member habits 16

Special dietary needs 17

Total 100

Figure 14. Reasons for reading nutrition information on food packages.

Analysis:


respondents 29% read the nutrition information on packages

for percent product comparision, 16% due to curiosity, 22%

for advice from nutrition counseling, 16% as a family

member habits, 17% as special dietary needs.

CROSSTABULATION

Gender * Food labels usage

Crosstab

Count

Food labels usage

Total always often rarely sometimes Never

Gender male 10 6 16 8 4 44

female 15 14 11 11 5 56

Total 25 20 27 19 9 100

Chi-Square Tests

Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)

Pearson Chi-Square 4.333a 4 .363

Likelihood Ratio 4.373 4 .358

N of Valid Cases 100

a. 1 cells (10.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 3.96.

Since p- value is 0.363> 0.05 we conclude that there isno significant difference between Gender and Usage of food labels.

Education * Food labels usage

Crosstab

Count


Food labels usage

Total always often rarely sometimes never

Education

no education 5 1 6 4 0 16

primary incomplete 1 1 0 0 0 2

primary complete 4 4 4 0 2 14

secondary education 6 5 4 1 2 18

college\ university studies 9 9 13 14 5 50

Total 25 20 27 19 9 100

Chi-Square Tests





a. 21 cells (84.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is .18.

Since p- value is 0.410> 0.05 we conclude that there isno significant difference between Education and Usage of food labels.

Occupation * Food labels usage

Crosstab

Count

Food labels usage

Total always often rarely sometimes Never

Occupation

employed 4 3 8 2 5 22

business 6 9 4 2 0 21

house wife 3 3 4 3 1 14

peasant 1 0 1 0 0 2

other 11 5 10 12 3 41

Total 25 20 27 19 9 100

Chi-Square Tests





a. 17 cells (68.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is .18.

Since p- value is 0.139> 0.05 we conclude that there isno

significant difference between Occupation and Usage of food

labels.

4. Discussion

Overall, these studies indicate that use of nutrition labels

among the general population is generally high and typically

above 50%. Age A majority of studies found that middle-

aged or younger adults were more likely to use nutrition

labels than were older individuals with several exceptions.

Women report using labels significantly more often than men

in a majority of studies that include both genders. Women

were also more likely to report that nutrition labels had

influenced their food choices and to trust nutrition labels.

Similar rates of nutrition label use have been documented

among women of different levels of income and socio-

economic status. Most studies have concluded that

individuals with lower income are less likely to use nutrition

labels. A wide range of studies have examined the association

between label use and health practices. Individuals with

healthier eating habits report greater use of nutrition labels,

either as a result of personal preference or because of the

requirements of a health-related issues.

On the basis of our review, we conclude that label use has

the potential to improve dietary quality, but the magnitude of

these improvements is relatively small. The record for

nutritional labeling is mixed. The presentation of nutritional

information, such as its complexity, specificity, credibility,

location on the package, and perhaps even ink color, may

significantly affect the manner in which consumers actually

use such information in the marketplace. Although

consumers generally view nutritional information as useful,

they prefer short, succinct wording over long and complex

claims and believe that the government should approve

claims.

On the positive side, many consumers do read food labels,

and nutrition is an important consideration in food purchases.

Food producers have also responded by creating healthier

foods. On the negative side, obesity in the United States has

increased since the introduction of mandatory nutritional

labels (e.g., Mokdad et al. 1999), and this trend continues.


Therefore, nutritional labeling has potentially led to some

improvement in overall health but continues to be more than

counterbalanced by the many factors that lead to obesity,

such as lack of exercise, increased food consumption, and

increased consumption of ready-to-eat foods.


respondents 44% are male and 56% are female. Among them

16% of the people are not having any formal education, 2%

are in primary completed stage, 14% are primary

incompleted, 18% have completed secondary education and

50% are with an education from college/university. These

results show those who are educated can understand food

labels well. With reference to the occupation of the subject

amongst 100 respondents 22% are employed, 21% are doing

business, 14% are housewife, 2% are peasants and 41% are

doing other works. These results showed those who had free

time could read the food labels and make a healthy shopping.

Those who rushed with busy shopping ended up with a

collection of products with expired manufacture dates, excess

calories, inedible colours, preservatives etc. From the survey

it was found that amongst 100 respondents 31% of the people

do all their food shopping for their households, 28% are

mostly do their shopping, 34% will do a little shopping and

7% are not doing any shopping. The results show that a well

educated person who can make all the family shopping by

himself reading food labels and analysing facts on them

without depending on anybody can give the best purchase for

his family. From the survey it was found that amongst 100

respondents 23% of the people always buy the food products

after reading the labels on packages, 20% will read oftenly,

27% will read rarely, 19% will read sometimes and 9% of the

people don’t read the labels on packages. These results show

awareness among people regarding food labels is still very

less and it has to be improved. From the survey it was found

that amongst 100 respondents 44% of the people think its

very easy to understand the labels on packages, 23% think

some what easy, 15%think its very hard, 18% think

somewhat hard. From the survey it was found that amongst

100 respondents 28% of the people feel amount of

information on labels are too much, 33% feel that’s the right

amount, 20% think its not enough and 19% people don’t

have any opinion. The results show more simple and precise

food label can be easy for the buyer to read. From the survey

it was found that amongst 100 respondents 24% people have

a great deal of influence when buying, 13% are having a fair

amount of influence, 27% have some influence, 27% have a

little influence and 9% have no influence in it. Thus the

present food labels have less impact on the buyer and thus

this ought to be improved. From the survey it was found that

amongst 100 respondents majority of the people look at the

food label for knowing the expiry date or the name of the

manufacturer followed by list of ingradients, net content,

place of manufacture, manufacture date, storage, nutrition

and usage information etc. From the survey it was found that

amongst 100 respondents 60% people of the people feel food

labeling is very important, 20% feel its some what important,

11% feel its minimally important, 9% are feeling its not

important. From the survey it was found that amongst 100

respondents 28% of the people donot read food labels

everytime because its time consuming, 17% as they don’t

understand that, 12% can’t find where the label is, 17% feels

labels are too small, 17% don’t have this habit, 7% feel there

is no need to do so and 2% people have other opinions. From

the survey it was found that amongst 100 respondents 38%

people look for ingredients on the food labels, 26% for

energy value, 12% for carbohydrate content, 13% for protein

content and 11% for fat content. Analysis:


respondents 40% of the people agree that food nutrition label

can help to make food choices, 16% partially agree this, 23%

are neutral, 12% people partially disagree this and 9% totally

disagree that food nutrition label can help to make food

choices.

5. Conclusion

Nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods are a cost-effective

population level intervention with unparalleled reach.

However, to capitalize on their potential, governments will

need to explore new formats and different types of

information content to ensure that nutrition information is

accessible and understandable. Population-level interventions

and changes to the food environment are necessary to halt the

rising health and economic burden from obesity. There is an

immediate need for evidence to inform these regulatory

developments. Mandatory display of nutrition information on

menus and menu boards of food outlets may be a promising

means of increasing the impact of nutrition labelling

regulations and harmonizing nutrient information across

information channels.

Appendix

A survey on perception of food labels among population of nellore district questionnaire

A: General information

1. Questionnaire No.

2. Date of interview

3. Name of the supermarket

B. Social demographic characteristics of consumer

1. Gender

a) Male

b) Female


2. What is your age? (years)

3. What is your level of education?

a) No formal education

b) Primary incomplete

c) Primary completed

d) Secondary education

e) College/university

4. What is your occupation?

a) Employed

b) Business

c) Housewife

d) Peasant

e) Others (specify)

C: Awareness on the basic pre-packaged food labelling information

1. How much of food shopping do you do for your households?

a) All

b) Most

c) Little

d) None

2. When you buy food products how often do you read the labels on packages?

a) Always

b) often

c) Rarely

d) Sometimes

e) Never

3. How understandable do you find the information about the content on labels of food packages?

a) Very easy

b) Somewhat easy

c) Very hard

d) Somewhat hard

4. What is your feeling on the amount of information on labels?

a) Too much

b) Right amount

c) Not enough

d) No opinion

5. How much influence does this content information have on your buying decisions?

a) A great deal of influence

b) A fair amount of influence

c) Some influence

d) Little influence

e) No influence

6. Which of the following terms are you most familiar with in relation to the basic information found on pre- packaged

food labels? (tick all mentioned)

a) List of ingredients

b) Net content

c) Name of the manufacturer

d) Country of origin

e) Batch /lot identification

f) Manufacture date

g) Expiry date

h) Storage condition

i) Nutrition information

j) Instructions for use

D. Consumers perception on the importance of food labelling information

7. How important do you consider food labelling information to be?

a. Very important

b. Somewhat important


c. Minimally important

d. Not important

8. Why you do not read the food labeling every time when you first purchase a prepackaged food product?

a) Time consuming

b) I do not understand it

c) cannot find the where the label is

d) Labels are too small

e) Do not have this habit

f) There is no need to do so

g) Others

9. What do you look for in reading the labels?

a. Ingredient

b. energy value

c. carbohydrate content (including sugar)

d. protein content

e. fat content (trans fat and saturated fat)

f. sodium content (salt)

g. Others

10. To what extent do you agree that reading the food nutrition labels can help you make informed food choices?

a. Totally agree

b. partially agree

c. neutral

d. partially disagree

e. totally disagree

11. Reasons for reading nutrition information on food packages?

a. percent product comparisions

b. curiosity

c. advice from nutrition counseling

d. family member habit

e. special dietary needs

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