Consumer nutrition knowledge and self reported food shopping behavior.

In 1975 a national sample of consumers was questioned about their knowledge of nutrition, beliefs about food, and their shopping behavior. Findings indicate a particular need for education related to facts about iron, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamins A and D. Consumers with low knowledge tended to have less education, lower income, and less prestigious occupations. Of these variables, educational achievement level had the strongest association to low nutrition knowledge. Using an index based on the three socioeconomic variables, low knowledge was more often present among the male and older shoppers, with age having the stronger association. Association of the three indices of nutrition knowledge, food beliefs, and reported shopping behavior were found to be positive and linear.