Food Label Usage and Understanding Among Singaporeans

Authors

  • Ameen Talib School of Business, Singapore University of Social Science, Singapore City
  • Jocelyn Sebastian Pereira School of Business, Singapore University of Social Science, Singapore City

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55324/ijoms.v2i4.369

Keywords:

food label, healthier choice symbol, nutritional information panel, food label terminology

Abstract

This study examines if the demographic characteristics influencing the usage of food labels and the extent to which Singaporeans read, understand and interpret food labels. Results suggest that food label reading prevalence in Singapore is high, with fat calories and sugar being read more often than other types of food label items. Healthier Choice Symbol is the most read label format in Singapore. Females are more likely to read food labels. The study also shows that, while Singaporeans positively perceived their ability to read food labels accurately, there are gaps in their perceived ability and the actual correct understanding and interpretation of food labels. The research concludes with suggestions for bridging the perceptional gaps and improving the existing food label formats.

References

Ambak, R., Tupang, L., Hasim, M. H., Salleh, N. C., Zulkafly, N., Salleh, R., . . . Naidu, B. M. (2018). Who do not read and understand food label in Malaysia? Findings from a population study. Health Science Journal, 12(1). doi:10.21767/1791-809x.1000548

Blitstein, J. L., & Evans, W. D. (2006). Use of nutrition facts panels among adults who make household food purchasing decisions. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 38(6), 360–364. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2006.02.009

Campos, S., Doxey, J., & Hammond, D. (2011). Nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods: A systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 14(8), 1496-1506. doi:10.1017/s1368980010003290

Christoph, M. J., Larson, N., Laska, M. N., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2018). Nutrition facts panels: Who uses them, what do they use, and how does use relate to dietary intake? Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(2), 217-228. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2017.10.014

Colby, E., Johnson, L., Scheett, A. & Hoverson, B. (2010). Nutrition Marketing on Food Labels. Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 42. 92-8. 10.1016/j.jneb.2008.11.002.

Cowburn, G., & Stockley, L. (2005). Consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling: A systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 8(1), 21-28. doi:10.1079/PHN2004666

Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297–334. doi: 10.1007/bf02310555

Cronbach, L. J., & Shavelson, R. J. (2004). My current thoughts on coefficient alpha and successor procedures. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 64(3), 391–418. doi: 10.1177/0013164404266386

Demarest, J., & Allen, R. (2000). Body image: Gender, ethnic, and age differences. The Journal of Social Psychology, 140(4), 465-72.

Department of Statistics, Singapore (2019, February 4). Education, language spoken and literacy. Retrieved on October 17, 2019, from https://www.singstat.gov.sg/find-data/search-by-theme/population/education-language-spoken-and-literacy/latest-data

Drichoutis, A., Lazaridis, P., & Nayga, R. (2006). Consumers' use of nutritional labels: A review of research studies and issues. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 10.

Godwin, S., Speller-Henderson, L., & Thompson, C. (2006). Evaluating the Nutrition Label: Its Use in and Impact on Purchasing Decisions by Consumers. Journal of Food Distribution Research, 37(1), 76.

Green, S. B. (1991). How many subjects does it take to do a regression analysis? Multivariate Behavioral Research, 26, 499-510. doi: 10.1207/s15327906mbr2603_7

Grunert, K. G., Fernández-Celemín, L., Wills, J. M., Bonsmann, S. S. G., & Nureeva, L. (2010). Use and understanding of nutrition information on food labels in six European countries. Journal of Public Health, 18(3), 261–277. doi: 10.1007/s10389-009-0307-0

Hawkes, C. (2004). Nutrition labels and health claims: The global regulatory environment. World Health Organization, Geneva.

HealthHub. (2019). Eat, drink, shop, healthy challenge – FAQ. Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/Programs/EatDrinkShopHealthy2/EDSH/pdfs/EDSH_Mega_FAQ.pdf

Health Promotion Board. (2018a). Healthier dining programme extended to include food in hawker centres and coffee shops. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://www.hpb.gov.sg/article/healthier-dining-programme-extended-to-include-food-in-hawker-centres-and-coffee-shops

Health Promotion Board. (2018b). National nutrition survey 2018 shows gradual improvements in Singaporeans’ dietary habits. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://www.hpb.gov.sg/article/national-nutrition-survey-2018-shows-gradual-improvements-in-singaporeans-dietary-habits

Health Promotion Board. (2019a). A handbook of nutrition labelling (Singapore). Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://www.hpb.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-handbook-on-nutrition-labelling---revised-mar-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=7eb7c272_2

Health Promotion Board. (2019c). Healthier choice symbol. Retrieved September 7, 2019, from https://www.hpb.gov.sg/food-beverage/healthier-choice-symbol

Ho, K. (2019, June 12). Two in five Singaporeans unhappy with their weight. Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://sg.yougov.com/en-sg/news/2019/06/12/two-five-singaporeans-unhappy-their-weight/.

Hruby, A., Manson, E., Qi, L., Malik, V., Rimm, E., Sun, Q., Willett, W., & Hu, F. (2016). Determinants and consequences of obesity. American Journal of Public Health, 106. e1-e7. 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303326.

Kaur, A., Scarborough, P., & Rayner, M. (2019). Regulating health and nutrition claims in the UK using a nutrient profile model: An explorative modelled health impact assessment. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0778-5

Kent, S., Fusco, F., Gray, A., Jebb, S. A., Cairns, B. J., & Mihaylova, B. (2017). Body mass index and healthcare costs: A systematic literature review of individual participant data studies. Obesity Reviews, 18(8), 869–879. doi: 10.1111/obr.12560

Labib, M. (2003). The investigation and management of obesity. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 56(1), 17–25. doi: 10.1136/jcp.56.1.17

Long, J. Scott. (1997). Regression models for categorical and limited dependent variables. In Advanced quantitative techniques in the social sciences. Sage.

Lakerveld, J., & Mackenbach, J. (2017). The upstream determinants of adult obesity. Obesity Facts, 10(3), 216-222. doi:10.1159/000471489

Majid, H.A., Shariff, S.N., Majid, M.A., Aszahar, N.F., & Omar, N.S. (2015). Nutritional labelling: Awareness and its effects towards consumer behaviour in purchasing product. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences, 5. 62-68.

Min, A. H. (2019, October 10). New mandatory nutrition labels, advertising ban for pre-packaged drinks high in sugar. Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/high-sugar-drinks-new-nutrition-labels-advertising-ban-11987416?cid=FBcna.

Ministry of Health. (2011). National health survey 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/resources-statistics/reports/executive-summary-nphs-2016_17.pdf

Ministry of Health. (2018a). Executive summary on national population health survey 2016/17. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/resources-statistics/reports/executive-summary-nphs-2016_17.pdf

Ministry of Health. (2018b). Mindset shifts, innovation and partnerships in the war on diabetes. Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/opening-remarks-by-deputy-prime-minister-and-coordinating-minister-for-economic-and-social-policies-mr-tharman-shanmugaratnam-at-the-opening-ceremony- of-the-ministerial-conference-on-diabetes-26-november-2018.

Nayga, R. M. (1996). Determinants of consumers use of nutritional information on food packages. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 28(2), 303–312. doi: 10.1017/s107407080000732x

NCES. (n.d.). Trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS) - TIMSS results. Retrieved October 22, 2019, from https://nces.ed.gov/timss/results11.asp.

Nguyen, P. K., Lin, S., & Heidenreich, P. (2016). A systematic comparison of sugar content in low-fat vs regular versions of food. Nutrition & Diabetes, 6(1). doi: 10.1038/nutd.2015.43

Nørtoft, E., Chubb, B., & Borglykke, A. (2017). Obesity and healthcare resource utilization: comparative results from the UK and the USA. Obesity Science & Practice, 4(1), 41–45.

Parikh, A. A., & Behnke, C. (2015). Nutrition label formatting: Customer perceptions and behaviors. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 18(1), 48-57. doi:10.1080/15378020.2015.995751

Persoskie, A., Hennessy, E., & Nelson, W. L. (2017). us consumers' understanding of nutrition labels in 2013: The importance of health literacy. Preventing Chronic Disease, 14, E86. doi:10.5888/pcd14.170066

Roberto, C. A., & Khandpur, N. (2014). Improving the design of nutrition labels to promote healthier food choices and reasonable portion sizes. International Journal of Obesity, 38(S1). doi: 10.1038/ijo.2014.86

Roe, B., Levy, A. S., & Derby, B. M. (1999). The impact of health claims on consumer search and product evaluation outcomes: Results from FDA experimental data. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 18(1), 89–105. doi: 10.1177/074391569901800110

Singapore Food Agency. (2019). Labelling guidelines for food importers & manufacturers. Retrieved September 7, 2019, from https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-information/labelling-packaging-information/labelling-guidelines-for-food-importers-manufacturers

Stinson, E. J., Piaggi, P., Ibrahim, M., Venti, C., Krakoff, J., & Votruba, S. B. (2018). High fat and sugar consumption during ad libitum intake predicts weight gain. Obesity, 26(4), 689–695. doi: 10.1002/oby.22124

Vijaykumar, S., Lwin, M. O., Chao, J., & Au, C. (2013). Determinants of food label use among supermarket shoppers: A Singaporean perspective. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 45(3), 204-212. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2012.09.001

Viola, G. C. V., Bianchi, F., Croce, E., & Ceretti, E. (2016). Are food labels effective as a means of health prevention? Journal of Public Health Research, 5(3). doi: 10.4081/jphr.2016.768

Downloads

Published

2023-01-30