Awareness and Knowledge of Recommendations from Canada's Food Guide.
OBJECTIVE
To examine use and content knowledge of Canada's Food Guide recommendations.


METHODS
A total of 1048 intercept exit surveys were conducted with adults who had purchased food that day at 2 hospital cafeterias in Ottawa, Ontario.


RESULTS
Most respondents (85.9%) reported looking at Canada's Food Guide over their lifetime; however, less than half reported looking at the food guide in the past year. Milk and Alternatives were the most commonly recalled food group (80.1%) and Grain Products were least commonly recalled (66.0%). Of the entire sample, 42.8% correctly recalled all 4 food groups. Overall, 0.8% correctly recalled the correct number of servings for all 4 food groups. Females, younger respondents, white respondents, respondents with higher annual income, and respondents who had reported looking at Canada's Food Guide recalled more food groups (P < 0.05 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite high levels of awareness, the study found relatively low levels of reported use and very low levels of knowledge of Canada's Food Guide, particularly among population subgroups that face health disparities. Improving awareness, knowledge, and use of Canada's Food Guide may contribute to improving the nutrition profile of Canadians.
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
Lana
L
Vanderlee
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
Cassondra
C
McCrory
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
David
D
Hammond
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001364:Awareness; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012737:Sex Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult