Open AccessHow to Communicate Nutritional Information to People: the Attitudes of Chile Population Toward Food
Author(s) -
Darío Gregori,
Simonetta Ballali,
Maria Gabriella Vecchio,
Luis Marcel Valenzuela Contreras,
Jorge Baeza Correa,
Cecilia Bahamonde Perez,
Jorge Barrera Luengo,
Edgardo Moyano,
Maurizio Arrieta,
Angelo Gutierrez,
Marco Ghidina,
Francesco Giunta,
Marcela Walker
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the open obesity journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1876-8237
DOI - 10.2174/1876823720130419004
Subject(s) - clarity , population , labelling , nutrition information , health claims on food labels , business , phone , transparency (behavior) , marketing , nutrition facts label , order (exchange) , food choice , advertising , environmental health , medicine , psychology , political science , food science , biochemistry , chemistry , linguistics , philosophy , criminology , finance , pathology , law
Nutrition labelling on food products represents an important tool for promoting healthy eating in consumers,and to guarantee transparency and clarity on products' characteristics. In an ideal scenario, consumers' betterunderstanding and subsequently better compliance to nutritional facts would result in healthier choices, which could leadto an improved diet and to a reduction in disease-related risk factors. Research is necessary not only in assessingconsumers' preferences towards different labels formats, but also to evaluate their ability to process food labels and theirdisposition towards new regulations concerning labelling. In our study, an ad-hoc survey was conducted to assess generalknowledge and use of different labels and nutrition fact information in a Chilean sample (n= 1280), which wasinterviewed through a phone survey, performed over a 1-month period, in September 2012. The major part of theinterviewees did not habitually read the labels and showed a low interest in paying an additional fee for additionalinformation (89%). The rest was willing to pay an additional fee of the 5%, in order to get information expressed as Kcalper portion in 68% of cases compared to per 100g. Chilean consumers appeared to be interested to nutritional matters andconsidered nutritional labelling as a proper tool to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Considering the Chilean low knowledge onnutritional labelling, it is necessary to improve nutrition messages and nutrition knowledge among the Chilean populationthrough fast action, especially to help consumers to make health-conscious choices.