Socio-demographic Determinants of Filipino Consumers Reading Food Product Labels and Nutrition Facts: Findings from the 2018-2019 ENNS

Abstract

Objectives: While food product labelling is deemed important in providing consumer information, little is known about the characteristics of those reading and not reading. This study aimed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of Filipino adult consumers reading and not reading food product labels and nutrition facts to provide insights on their understanding and usage of food labels that may help in designing better label formats of packaged foods and related health education campaigns.

Methods: Cross-sectional design using secondary data from the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) 2018-2019 was employed. A survey form on Reading Food Product Labels and Nutrition Facts in the ENNS 2018-2019 were collected through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics, test of proportions, and logistic regression were done using Stata version 16.

Results: Always reading product labels were reported only by 19.6% of adult consumers, 18 years old and above, while 45.9% reported not reading food product labels. Among those who read food product labels, only 16.7% reported reading nutrition facts. Higher proportions of adults reading nutrition facts were found among those who attained a higher educational level, were less than 40 years old, living in urban residences, and belonging to higher wealth status. 'Not interested' was the top reason of adults who reported not reading nutrition facts.

Conclusion: Reading product labels and nutrition facts is not common among Filipino adults. Being not interested was the top reason for not reading food product labels. Older persons, adults with low educational attainment, and belonging to poor households were more likely to not read food product labels and not influenced by nutrition facts which imply the need for a food label format that would cater to those who cannot or have difficulty reading food labels and nutrition facts. An intensified campaign on the importance of reading food product labels is also needed.

Keywords: calories; consumer education; food labels; nutrition education; nutrition facts.

Figure 1

Proportion of adult consumers, 18 years old and above, who read the information on product labels.

Figure 2

Information read by adult consumers, 18 years old and above, who reported reading nutrition facts.

Figure 3

Reasons of adult consumers, 18 years old and above, for not reading the nutrition facts.