Health Literacy and Its Associations with Understanding and Perception of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels among Higher Education Students

Axelle Hoge, Mathilde Labeye, Anne-Françoise Donneau, Halehsadat Zahraei Nekoee, Eddy Husson and Michèle Guillaume
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Axelle Hoge: Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, Belgium
Mathilde Labeye: Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, Belgium
Anne-Françoise Donneau: Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, Belgium
Halehsadat Zahraei Nekoee: Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, Belgium
Eddy Husson: Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, Belgium
Michèle Guillaume: Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: (1) Background : Nutrition labels on the front of food packages have increasingly become the focus of research. However, too few studies have placed special emphasis on nutritionally at-risk subpopulations, such as young adults or those with low literacy/numeracy skills. The present study aimed to assess both the perception and objective understanding of three front-of-package labeling (FOPL) formats currently in use on the Belgian market, i.e., the Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes, and Multiple Traffic Lights, among students of varying health literacy (HL) levels. (2) Methods : A web-based survey was carried out among 2295 students of tertiary education in the province of Liège, Belgium. The questionnaire included questions related to general characteristics, objective understanding, and perception in response to the assigned FOPL format and level of HL. (3) Results : With respect to objective understanding, the Nutri-Score outperformed all other labels across all HL levels, and it was similarly understood in students of varying HL levels. Several students’ characteristics appeared to be associated with each cluster of perception, with the Nutri-Score cluster having the highest percentages of disadvantaged students, i.e., those with inadequate HL, from non-university institutions, with low self-estimated nutrition knowledge, and with low self-estimated diet quality. (4) Conclusion : Overall, the findings supported the Nutri-Score as particularly effective in guiding students in their food choices. Of particular importance is the fact that the summarized and graded color-coded nutritional label would be a useful strategy for those disadvantaged by limited HL.

Keywords: front-of-package labels; nutrition labels; health literacy; students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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