Lin Chung-Tung Jordan, Lee Jonq-Ying, Yen Steven T
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, HFS-727, College Park, MD 20740-3835, USA.
Soc Sci Med. 2004 Nov;59(9):1955-67. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.02.030.
Nutrition labels on food packages are designed to promote and protect public health by providing nutrition information so that consumers can make informed dietary choices. High levels of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol in diets are linked to increased blood cholesterol levels and a greater risk of heart disease. Therefore, an understanding of consumer use of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol information on food labels has important implications for public health and nutrition education. This study explores the association between dietary intakes of these three nutrients and psychological or demographic factors and the search for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol information on food labels. Psychology literature suggests a negative association between intakes of these nutrients and probability of search for their information on food labels. Health behavior theories also suggest perceived benefits and costs of using labels and perceived capability of using labels are associated with the search behavior. We estimate the relationship between label information search and its predictors using logistic regressions. Our samples came from the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and Diet and Health Knowledge Survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. Results suggest that search for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol information on food labels is less likely among individuals who consume more of the three nutrients, respectively. The search is also related to perceived benefits and costs of using the label, perceived capability of using the label, knowledge of nutrition and fats, perceived efficacy of diets in reducing the risk of illnesses, perceived importance of nutrition in food shopping, perceived importance of a healthy diet, and awareness of linkage between excessive consumption of the nutrients and health problems. These findings suggest encouraging search of food label information among consumers with unhealthy dietary habits would need innovative approaches. Yet, nutrition education can be instrumental in encouraging this search by stimulating motivation and providing technical help.
食品包装上的营养标签旨在通过提供营养信息来促进和保护公众健康，以便消费者能够做出明智的饮食选择。饮食中总脂肪、饱和脂肪和胆固醇含量过高与血液胆固醇水平升高以及心脏病风险增加有关。因此，了解消费者对食品标签上总脂肪、饱和脂肪和胆固醇信息的使用情况对公共卫生和营养教育具有重要意义。本研究探讨了这三种营养素的饮食摄入量与心理或人口统计学因素之间的关联，以及在食品标签上查找总脂肪、饱和脂肪和胆固醇信息的情况。心理学文献表明，这些营养素的摄入量与在食品标签上查找其信息的可能性呈负相关。健康行为理论也表明，使用标签的感知益处和成本以及使用标签的感知能力与搜索行为有关。我们使用逻辑回归估计标签信息搜索与其预测因素之间的关系。我们的样本来自美国农业部进行的1994 - 1996年个人食物摄入量持续调查以及饮食与健康知识调查。结果表明，分别摄入较多这三种营养素的个体在食品标签上查找总脂肪、饱和脂肪和胆固醇信息的可能性较小。这种搜索还与使用标签的感知益处和成本、使用标签的感知能力、营养和脂肪知识、饮食在降低疾病风险方面的感知功效、营养在食品购物中的感知重要性、健康饮食的感知重要性以及对过量摄入这些营养素与健康问题之间联系的认识有关。这些发现表明，鼓励饮食习惯不健康的消费者搜索食品标签信息需要创新方法。然而，营养教育可以通过激发动机和提供技术帮助来促进这种搜索。
