Content uploaded by Veronica Mulenga
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Veronica Mulenga on Jul 18, 2019
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ON CONSUMER UNDERSTANDING AND USING OF NUTRITION FACT PANEL---CASE STUDY OF ZAMBIA AND CHINA
Abstract and Figures
Objective: To what extent do Chinese and Zambian consumers understand and use Nutrition Fact Panel and to evaluate some influencing factors on the level of Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP) use in making food choices.
Method: Data were collected from the Chinese (498) and Zambian (325) consumers drawn from the two cosmopolitan cities of Nanjing and Livingstone respectively. A mall-intercept survey technique was used and the consumers were conveniently sampled from around major food supermarkets like Metro, Wal-Mart, Suguo, in China and Spar, Shoprite in Zambia, using a structured questionnaire. 18 and above years participants were targeted. Gender, age, education level, occupation, income, household size and health status were the independent variables and Consumer reading and understanding the NFP were the dependable valuables. Chi-square statistics were used to analyze the results of this study.
Results: Average levels of awareness and reading of NFP information was recorded in both Chinese (58.7%) and Zambian (67.1%) consumers. Additionally, Chi-square revealed statistically significant differences based on gender. More female (65.3% China, 74.4% Zambia) consumers were aware and used NFP than their male (51.1% China, 60.9% Zambia) counterparts in both regions. Consumers who mostly use NFP were in the middle age group (31-45 and 46-50 years). Also those with secondary and above education levels were more aware and had a better NFP understanding. Consumers in the medical fields, engineers, businessmen, teachers and house maker/housewife were the most ones who used NFP in both China and Zambia. A significant difference in household results was recorded between the two areas surveyed showing an influence on NFP awareness. Households in China were more aware and used NFP more than households in Zambia. As for income those with higher income used NFP more than those with less income in China, and for Zambia there was an average distribution of use in all income levels. The variable Health status which was used to represent the individual’s current health condition or any member of the household has a positive effect on the awareness and reading of NFP in China, with those with a Health condition (72.6%) more than those without. This was not the case with Zambia as the result was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: NFP awareness and use varies and the variation is mostly due to the influence of individual characteristics. These individual characteristics can positively influence consumers to use NFP (like the more educated an individual is the higher the chances of being aware and use NFP) or negatively influence them ( those with less or no education are less likely to be aware and use NFP). Gender, education and occupation had positive influence on both Chinese and Zambian consumers. Income levels and household size had a positive influence on Chinese consumers and not on Zambian consumers. Health status was also positively influencing Chinese consumers to use NFP and not Zambian consumers. The results suggest the need to development programs aimed at raising awareness levels of NFP information to ensure the development of health consumer habits. Especially that the percentage of consumers who are not aware and confuses ingredient list to NFP and consider other components of the food label ignoring the NFP are high. This will also enable consumers to make informed food choices and avoid dietary related diseases.
Keywords: Nutrition Facts Panel, Awareness, Use, Influencing factors
Figures - uploaded by Veronica Mulenga
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by Veronica Mulenga
Content may be subject to copyright.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
p>Nutrition information enables consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing and consuming food products. Despite this, the issue of consumer awareness and usage of nutrition information has attracted little research attention in developing countries. This study presents findings of an empirical investigation of nutrition information awareness and usage in Botswana. The study is descriptive and data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 150 consumers in Gaborone, the Capital City of Botswana. A mall-intercept technique was used in the selection of the respondents. The main findings of the study indicate that the level of awareness of nutrition information among the sampled consumers is relatively high, and that the majority of them use nutrition information to inform food purchases. The study further finds that whereas nutrition information awareness does not significantly differ across the demographic segments, usage differs. Lack of knowledge and interest are the main factors that prevent consumers from using nutrition information. Nutrition information is mostly used when comparing products or when buying food products for the first time. These findings highlight the need to improve nutrition education in Botswana. The findings also suggest that food producers in Botswana need to use nutrition information to differentiate their products from competitors’. Similarly, the findings highlight the need for the food industry in Botswana to establish more effective nutrition information labeling standards. However, these findings need to be interpreted with caution as they are based on consumers’ self-report of nutrition information use, which is highly subjective.</p
Objectives: This study set out to determine the following in relation to the nutrition information on the food labels of selected fat spreads: the demographic profile of female consumers using the food label, reasons for food label use and whether the use of the food label leads to the purchase of the selected fat spreads.
Methods: One hundred and fifty women aged 25 to 45 years were chosen using an accidental, non-probability sample of consumers shopping at selected supermarkets in Pietermaritzburg. Consenting subjects were presented with a questionnaire to determine their demographic characteristics as well as their reasons for purchasing the selected fat spreads. Descriptive statistics and principal component analyses were used to analyse the results of this study.
Results: Fifty-five per cent (n = 82) of this study sample reported using the nutrition information label to assist with their purchases and 68% (n = 102) found the nutrition information important when purchasing a new product.
Conclusions: The female consumer most likely to use the nutrition information on the food label had a tertiary education; was a primary food purchaser; lived with other people; had more money per month to spend on food; and was conscious of choosing the healthier option. Principal component analysis revealed that the purchase of a selected fat spread was influenced by a number of variables reflecting health awareness, the selected fat spread’s marketing, presentation and popularity, and familiarity with and cost awareness of the selected fat spread.
A practical and engaging introduction to the core principles of nutrition. A thorough introductory guide, this text will equip students with the knowledge and skills required to optimise health and well-being. With its focus on Australasia, the text incorporates current nutrition recommendations and public health nutrition issues relevant to those studying and working in nutrition in this region of the world. The text begins with core nutrition topics, such as diet planning, macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, and follows with chapters on diet and health, fitness, life span nutrition and food safety. With a consistent level and readability, careful explanations of all key topics (including energy metabolism and other complex processes), this is a book that connects with students; engaging them as it teaches them the basic concepts and applications of nutrition.
This study aims at testing a theoretical model explaining why people follow healthy eating habits and in particular to identify how the nutritional labels use influences this behavioural pattern. The results indicate that the individuals who utilise more often the nutritional labels follow healthier eating habits, such as avoiding snacking between meals, a lower intake of salt and avoiding the fat intake. According the factors explaining the label use, the health knowledge, the bad health status and being aware of the diet-health relation are found significant. Age and household size are the socio-demographic variables which also affect the nutritional label use and eating habits. Findings provide more evidence on the consumers' underlying motivations to pay attention to nutritional labelling, which allows evaluating the impact of the implementation of the Regulation EC1924/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutritional and health claims made on foods (Regulation EC1924/2006). In addition, empirical results could help the local policy makers to establish appropriate market strategies to increase healthy eating habits by promoting the nutritional label use by consumers.
Consumers' ability to perform common nutrition label use tasks and specific task components, which revealed the effect of prior knowledge, were analyzed for relationships with demographic characteristics, label reading, and health status. Data were from a mall intercept experimental study. Most consumers (78%) accurately compared two products, 58% accurately evaluated nutrient level claims, 45% comprehensively balanced nutrients over a daily diet, and 20% accurately calculated the contribution of a single food to a daily diet, a task that required complex math. The subjects who performed significantly poorer were over 55 years of age, nonwhite, and less educated than those who performed best. Not reading food labels and having a diet-related health condition were also related to poorer performance. Task component analysis showed that all types of subjects shared the same response tendencies when making nutrition judgments. The findings suggest that dietary guidance for consumers will be more effective if it does not require quantitative tasks but relies instead on tasks that are easier for consumers.
PART ONE: CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN THE USE OF QUALITATIVE METHODS The Nature of Qualitative Inquiry Strategic Themes in Qualitative Methods Variety in Qualitative Inquiry Theoretical Orientations Particularly Appropriate Qualitative Applications PART TWO: QUALITATIVE DESIGNS AND DATA COLLECTION Designing Qualitative Studies Fieldwork Strategies and Observation Methods Qualitative Interviewing PART THREE: ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION, AND REPORTING Qualitative Analysis and Interpretation Enhancing the Quality and Credibility of Qualitative Analysis
The purpose of this study is to examine Turkish consumers' understanding and use of nutrition labels found on packaged food products. Data was collected from a total of 500 consumers living in Istanbul through the use of a structured and undisguised questionnaire. Apart from the descriptive statistics, analyses were conducted with respect to the demographic variables of "gender", "age", "education", and "districts of the city respondents lived in". Significant differences were found to exist particularly among those living in the different districts of the city. "Follow-up of nutrition related news in the media" has also been analyzed. Implications of the study for consumers, producers, retailers, and the state together with further research are presented in the last part of the paper. Although the findings of the study pertain to the Turkish market, its implications may be applicable in other countries, as well, where nutrition labeling is not mandatory for the time being.