Abstract
Background
The Nutrition Facts label can facilitate healthy dietary practices. There is a dearth
of research on Latinos' utilization and comprehension of the Nutrition Facts label.
Objective
To measure use and comprehension of the Nutrition Facts label and to identify correlates
among Latinos in East Los Angeles, CA.
Design
Cross-sectional interviewer-administered survey using computer-assisted personal interview
software, conducted in either English or Spanish in the participant's home.
Participants/setting
Eligibility criteria were: living in a household within the block clusters identified,
being age 18 years or older, speaking English or Spanish, identifying as Latino and
as the household's main food purchaser and preparer. Analyses were based on 269 eligible
respondents.
Statistical analyses performed
χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the associations among
the main outcomes and demographics. Multiple imputations addressed missing data.
Results
Sixty percent reported using the label; only 13% showed adequate comprehension of
the label. Utilization was associated with being female, speaking Spanish, and being
below the poverty line. Comprehension was associated with younger age, not being married,
and higher education. Utilization was not associated with comprehension.
Conclusions
Latinos who are using the Nutrition Facts label are not correctly interpreting the
available information. Targeted education is needed to improve use and comprehension
of the Nutrition Facts label to directly improve diet, particularly among males, older
Latinos, and those with less than a high school education.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Consumers' ability to perform tasks using nutrition labels.J Nutr Educ. 1998; 30: 210-217
- Patient understanding of food labels: The role of literacy and numeracy.Am J Prev Med. 2006; 31: 391-398
United States Food and Drug Administration. Nutrition Facts Label: Proposed Changes Aim to Better Inform Food Choices. Silver Spring, MD: United States Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm387114.htm. Accessed April 14, 2014.
- Adolescent nutritional awareness and use of food labels: Results from the national nutrition health and examination survey.BMC Pediatr. 2012; 12: 55
- Nutrition knowledge, food label use, and food intake patterns among Latinas with and without type 2 diabetes.J Am Diet Assoc. 2008; 108: 960-967
- Development of a color-coded bilingual food label for low-literacy Latino caretakers.J Nutr Educ. 2000; 32: 152-160
- A randomized trial of a brief multimedia intervention to improve comprehension of food labels.Prev Med. 2009; 48: 25-31
- Health literacy instrument in family medicine: The “Newest Vital Sign” ease of use and correlates.J Am Board Fam Med. 2010; 23: 195-203
- The evolving concept of health literacy.Social Sci Med. 2008; 67: 2072-2078
- Health Literacy Interventions and Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 199. Prepared by RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center under contract no. 290-2007-10056-I. AHRQ Publication Number 11-E006.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MDMarch 2011
- A qualitative study examining Latino functional health literacy levels and sources of health information.J Community Health. 2009; 34: 222-230
- Assessment of health literacy and numeracy among Spanish-Speaking parents of young children: Validation of the Spanish parental health literacy activities test (PHLAT Spanish).Acad Pediatr. 2012; 12: 68-74
- Nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among Latinos in the USA: Influence of language.Ecol Food Nutr. 2001; 40: 321-345
- Food label use and food label skills among Immigrants from the former Soviet Union.J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012; 44: 398-406
- Census, 2000.US Census Bureau, Washington, DC2000
- Health literacy: A second decade of distinction for Americans.J Health Commun. 2010; 15: 20-33
- Predictors of nutrition label viewing during food purchase decision making: An eye tracking investigation.Public Health Nutr. 2011; 15: 189
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaire.US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA2010
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Questionnaire.US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD2010
- Health Assessment.LA County Health Survey, 2007. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA2007
- California Health Interview Survey: CHIS.UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA2009
- Access to food source and food source use are associated with healthy and unhealthy food-purchasing behaviours among low-income African-American adults in Baltimore City.Public Health Nutr. 2011; 14: 1632
- An urban food store intervention positively affects food-related psychosocial variables and food behaviors.Health Educ Behav. 2010; 37: 390-402
- Understanding the food environment in a low-income urban setting: Implications for food store interventions.J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2008; 2: 33-50
Healthy Stores. Baltimore Healthy Stores. http://healthystores.org/projects/archive/baltimore-healthy-stores/. Accessed January 10, 2013.
- Quick assessment of literacy in primary care: The newest vital sign.Ann Fam Med. 2005; 3: 514-522
- Logistic regression using the SAS system.SAS Institute, Cary, NC1999
- Nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods: A systematic review.Public Health Nutr. 2011; 14: 1496
- Food nutrition label use is associated with demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors and dietary intake among African Americans in North Carolina.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2005; 105: 392-402
- Improving low-income parents' fruit and vegetable intake and their potential to impact children's nutrition.Health Educ. 2011; 111: 391-411
- Place of residence modifies the association between acculturation and dietary tools knowledge among Latina WIC participants: A multi-state study.J Immigr Minor Health. 2011; 13: 299-308
- Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity Through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland2008
- Increasing nutrition literacy: Testing the effectiveness of print, web site, and game modalities.J Nutr Educ Behav. 2008; 40: 3-10
- Nutrition and health literacy: A systematic review to inform nutrition research and practice.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012; 112: 254-265
- Measuring adult literacy in health care: performance of the newest vital sign.Am J Health Behav. 2007; 31: S36-S46
Biography
M. Z. Sharif is a trainee, University of California, Los Angeles/University of Southern California (UCLA/USC) Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, and a doctoral student, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Community Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
S. Rizzo is a doctoral student, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
M. L. Prelip is a principal investigator, UCLA/USC Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, and professor, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Community Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
D. C. Glik is a principal investigator, UCLA/USC Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, and professor, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Community Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
T. R. Belin is director of the methods core, UCLA/USC Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, and a professor, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
B. A. Langellier is an assistant professor, University of Arizona Zuckermann College of Public Health, Tuscon.
Biography
A. A. Kuo is co-director of the training core, UCLA/USC Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, and a professor, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
J. R. Garza is a doctoral student, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management, Los Angeles, CA.
Biography
A. N. Ortega is director, UCLA/USC Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, and a professor, Fielding School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management, Los Angeles, CA.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 25, 2014
Accepted:
May 1,
2014
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Award Numbers P50 HL105188 and R25HL108854. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
