Consumer awareness of nutrition labels and its role in healthy food choices: A review

Abstract:

Nutrition labeling serves as an important public health tool to assist consumers in making informed and healthier food choices. In the context of the rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases worldwide, consumer awareness and use of nutrition labels have gained considerable attention. This review critically examines existing literature on consumer awareness, understanding, and utilization of nutrition labels, with a specific focus on comparing consumer practices in India with those in other countries. Evidence indicates that while general awareness of nutrition labels is relatively high in India, their effective use in guiding healthy food choices remains limited, with consumers often prioritizing expiry dates, price, and taste over nutritional information. In contrast, consumers in many developed and middle-income countries demonstrate higher levels of comprehension and more consistent use of nutrition labels, particularly where simplified front-of-pack labeling systems are implemented. The review further explores socio-demographic, educational, and regulatory factors influencing these differences in consumer behavior. Challenges such as low nutrition literacy, complex label formats, and misleading claims are highlighted as key barriers in the Indian context. Overall, the comparative analysis underscores the need for improved nutrition education, simplified and standardized labeling formats, and strengthened policy interventions to enhance the effectiveness of nutrition labeling in promoting healthier food choices, especially in developing countries like India.