Factors Affecting the Use and Understanding of Nutrition Labeling on Food Labels among Nepalese Youths

Abstract

Nutrition labeling, crucial for informing consumers about food content, faces significant gaps in Nepal's regulatory framework. These gaps impact how the nutritional information is understood and used by consumers, contributing to challenges like obesity and chronic diseases in the country. This study aims to uncover the factors affecting the use and understanding of nutrition labeling on food labels among Nepalese youths. Conducted through a cross-sectional approach, this research involved administering a structured questionnaire to 225 participants in June 2023, targeting regular consumers of packaged foods. Data analysis, employing both descriptive and multivariate principal component analysis using SPSS 25, revealed that 24% of respondents always read nutrition labeling on food labels in packed food items. The Principal Component Analysis identified four key factors affecting the use and understanding of nutrition labeling: "perception of the nutritional information", "motivations in dietary decisions", "awareness" and "health priority interest in nutritional attributes". These factors collectively explained over 54% of the variance in the data, as validated by the scree plot and Kaiser Criterion. The study underscores the necessity of initiatives aimed at enhancing the accessibility, clarity, and appeal of nutritional labeling on food labels in packaged food products. Such initiatives are pivotal for policymakers, educators, and marketers striving to encourage healthier dietary practices among Nepalese youths.