Investigation of Consumers’ Knowledge and Function in Relation With Food Products Labels in Isfahan City, Isfahan Province of Iran

摘要

The target of this study was about the evaluation of the level of consumers’ knowledgeon the information of food label in Isfahan city, Isfahan province of Iran in year 2012-2013. In this cross descriptive and analytical study, 331 of Isfahan consumers wereinvestigated individually in 4 regions including north, south, west and east of Isfahancity. This study was a questionnaire base study. All demographical and knowledgeinformation about label analyzed. People age ranged 16-70 and their education degreefrom reading-writing to bachelor. The number of men and women was the same (48.9% women and 51.2 % men).the average of knowledge degree of consumers aboutinformation on food labels was 22.2±3.3.the amount of 41 % (with knowledge degreeof 0-33) weak, 41 % (with knowledge degree of 34-66) fair, and only 18 % (withknowledge degree of 67-100) good were the results of this study. Mostly, consumers(77.9-80 %) paid attention to selecting products with label and health license.Less than80 % of consumers consider bulk products in their household basket and 77 % alwaystook into account the information on the labels. Consumers’ range 70-70.4 % believedthat the clarity of information written on the labels has the important role in theirselecting. Comparing the knowledge level of consumers about health license (36.66 %),their application including health permit, production license, health monitoring ID,health permit of imports (9.06 %) with the average of consumers to standard sign (94.6%) indicated a high value due to wide advertising and informing and sufficient training.Comparing this value with the level of consumers’ knowledge about health licensespoints out more informing and advertising in this case.