Nutrition information on food labels: consumers’ reasons for ignorance,

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to reveal the reasons for ignorance of nutrition labels and to identify demographic and economic differences in reasons for nutrition labels ignorance. The employed factor analysis revealed 3 factors (shopping practices, perceived inability and absence of need). The results of ANOVA test proved the existence of significant differences between lower-educated people and higher educated people on two factors (shopping practices and perceived inability) as well as significant age differences in one of the three factors (perceived inability). The results of ANOVA test showed no statistically significant gender and income differences in reasons for ignorance of nutrition information. Recommendations may help governmental institutions, consumer organizations and companies in developing communications and educational programs about the importance of nutrition labelling aimed at different age and income groups of consumers.