[Expectations regarding nutrition information on food product packages].
Food labeling was originally developed to help consumers make the right decision in choosing at food products. It (food labeling) is also helpful in consumer's education. The aim of this study was to analyze the consumers' preferences concerning foods' labeling products. The type and the form of the information and of course the information itself were analyzed. The study was carried out in the form of a questionnaire among 295 people who were the consumers of supermarkets. The only criteria for the chosen subjects were that they agree to take part in the study and that they are the heads of their families. It came out that 54% of the subjects accepted the current information about food products. More than 23% said that they didn't understand the information provided by the food labels. 66% said that food labels should have educational information concerning the role of an ingredient in health and nutrition. Everyone wanted "negative" information, for example: "this product is not recommended for..."). More than 87% stated that they want information like "this product is recommended for...". (That kind of preference doesn't go along with the current law concerning food products). The best motivation for using food labels is sickness or illness. 89% of the subjects said that the information about the food products and the nutritional value are more important than the information about the producer. Informations concerning the nutritional values in 100 g and in 1 portion of a product were easiest to understand for 71% of the subjects. The results of this study show that food labeling is very important form of consumers education.
Jarosz
Agnieszka
A
Zakład Upowszechniania Wiedzy Instytut Zywności i Zywienia 02-903 Warszawa, ul. Powsińska 61/63.
Kozłowska-Wojciechowska
Małgorzata
M
Uramowska-Zyto
Barbara
B
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000592:standards*; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000592:standards*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires