Researchers have identified a positive relationship between nutrition label reading and dietary behavior. Building on the research of Marietta et al. (1999), this study serves to further explore label reading behavior among college students. The purpose of this study was to examine reported nutrition label use among college students and explore, using qualitative methods, the reasons why students do or do not read nutrition labels when purchasing foods. Data were collected in the fall of 2003, from a convenience sample of approximately 1300 students enrolled in required health classes at Texas A&M University. Participants completed a 57-item survey instrument that included open-ended items. Responses to these items were coded by recurring themes, and data were assigned numerical values for quantitative analyses using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results of a binary logistic regression indicated that choice of foods based on taste, desire to be “healthy,” lack of concern for nutritional content, lack of label understanding, attitudes towards food labels, previous knowledge of foods’ nutritional content, food label knowledge, lack of time, desire to locate specific nutritional values, and gender were statistically significant predictors of frequent users or infrequent/non-users. Of the 1294 reasons reported, 281 (21.7%) were related to students’ desire to be “healthy,” “physically fit,” or control weight, and 280 of 1285 (21.8%) reasons were related to students’ desire to locate values for specific nutrients. These were the two primary reasons for label use. Students’ lack of concern about nutritional content was determined to be the primary reason for label nonuse with 302 of 1293 (23.4%) responses classified as “don’t care.” Additional findings, implications, and recommendations for increasing label use among college students will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: The learner will be able to identify the most frequent reasons for use of nutrition labels offered by a sample of university students. The learner will be able to identify the most frequent reason for non-use of nutrition labels offered by a sample of university students. The learner will be able to describe recommendations that might increase nutrition label use among university students.