Assessment of Consumers’ Knowledge and Their Use of Nutritional Facts on Food Labels for Saudi and Non-Saudi Individuals During Umrah Period

Abstract

Introduction: The nutritional facts on food labels provide a consumer with the easiest way to select food based on its nutritional facts which are located on the food label. Adding nutrition content on food labels could be one of the most effective tools for communicating nutritional information to consumers. Method: Saudi and non-Saudi pilgrims during Umrah period among the population aged ≥ 18 years. The study comprised a structured questionnaire packet that inquired about demographic information (gender, nationality, marital status, education level, age, employment, monthly income (Saudi Arabian riyals) SAR, medical diagnosis, and food allergy. The survey was conducted from 23 March to 20 April 2023. All data were collected using an online self-reported questionnaire, using Google Forms. Given the high internet usage among people in the KSA, the link of the online questionnaire was distributed to the target population, and various media platforms, including Email, Google Drive, and WhatsApp groups, and their responses were collected. Results: Our study showed the knowledge of the consumers and their use of nutritional facts on food labels for Saudi and non-Saudi individuals during Umrah period, most of the research sample individuals were Women at a rate of 54.7%, and 60.7% of the research sample individuals were Saudi. According to Marital states, 48.7% were Married by Divorced, Single, and Widowed at the rate of, 24, 16, and 11.3% respectively. In addition, educated individuals with a Bachelor's degree were more aware of nutritional facts on food labels than a High School or Master / Ph.D. It is clear that 62 of the research sample individuals their aged between 30 to 40 years followed by 49 aged ‎ 41 years or more and 39 of the research sample individuals aged ‎ less than 30 years. Based on the Medical diagnosis, our results display that, most of the research sample individuals were Hypertension which counted 39 of the total individuals followed by Diseases free, Cardiovascular, Asthma, Diabetes, Iron deficiency (anemia), Liver diseases, Cancer, and Thyroid respectively. The majority of the individuals were allergic to foo at about 62%m while 38%. Moreover, 70.7% of the research sample individuals were aware that ‎packaged foods have labels, and 50% of them were always reading food labels followed by 30.7% Sometimes reading and 19.3% they are never reading. 92% of the research sample individuals believed labels were helpful when purchasing. Conclusion: From the results, it can be concluded that more than half of the sample individuals mentioned that they were aware that ‎packaged foods have labels, and 50% of them were always reading food labels, It also indicates that the majority of respondents who are reading food labels who are Hypertension patients, Cardiovascular, Asthma, Diabetes, Iron deficiency (anemia), Liver diseases, Cancer, and Thyroid which means they are reading based on their high awareness of the strong relation between their health condition and food. The results also indicate that nutrition information awareness and reading do not significantly differ according to gender at the same time they differ based on nationality whereas Saudi individuals were more aware than non-Saudi.