A study on parents' food label reading habits and influencing factors in food selection

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the nutritional label reading habits of parents and the factors affecting food choice when choosing food for their children. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted online between February and September 2021, with the participation of 286 parents (253 females, 33 males) aged between 18-65 years, who had children under the age of 12 and were responsible for their food shopping. Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults and descriptive survey forms were used in this study. Results: The study revealed that female parents had a higher rate of food label reading (97.2%) than male parents (87.9%). Specifically, the frequency of reading certain label information, such as ingredients, additives, product name and brand, preparation and storage conditions, total fat, vitamin, and sugar content, as well as the presence of low-fat labeling on the package, varied by gender. There was a significant relationship between factors influencing food selection, such as the perceived healthiness of the food, child preference, organic nature, and parental gender and body mass index categories. Parents paid particular attention to the freshness of fruits and vegetables when selecting them for their children and a significant difference was observed between male and female parents. Conclusion: Many parents pay attention to food label information when purchasing foods for their children. The perceived healthiness and organic nature of food, as well as the child's preference, have a significant impact on food selection. The dietary habits, gender, and body mass index of the parents also play important roles in food selection. In conclusion, parents’ food label reading habits and the factors influencing food selection are crucial in supporting children's healthy eating and making appropriate food choices. Therefore, guiding parents on reading food labels and making informed decisions regarding proper nutrition is important.