Use of food labels and beliefs about diet–disease relationships among university students

Bibliographic Data

ID15094004
AuthorsShannon C Smith, Jeffrey G Taylor (University of Saskatchewan), Alison M Stephen (University of Saskatchewan, corresponding author)
Year2000
Volume3
Issue2
Pages175-182
Publication date2000-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980000000203
PMID10948384
OpenAlexW2141045017
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited14

Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the reported use of nutrition information on food labels by a population of university students and to determine if label users differed from non-users in terms of gender and specific beliefs related to label information and diet–disease relationships, specifically fat and heart disease and fibre and cancer. Design A single-stage cluster sampling technique was used. Data was obtained using a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Setting The present investigation took place at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada in the autumn of 1997. Subjects A total of 553 students in randomly selected classes in the College of Arts and Science took part in the survey (92% response rate). The sample consisted of roughly equal numbers of males and females, most between the ages of 18 and 24. Results There were approximately equal numbers of label users and non-users among males, while label users outnumbered non-users by almost four to one among females. The importance of nutrition information on food labels was the only belief that differed significantly between label users and non-users for both sexes. For females, no other beliefs distinguished label users from non-users. However, for males, significant differences were found between label users and non-users on the beliefs that nutrition information is truthful and that a relationship between fibre and cancer exists. Conclusions Females appear to use food labels more often than do males. The only consistently observed difference between label users and non-users (male and female) was that users believed in the importance of nutrition information on food labels while non-users did not

Cluster sampling · Environmental health · Nutrition facts label · Population · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Culinary Culture and Tourism · Demography · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access