CONSUMERS USE OF NUTRITIONAL LABELS WHILE FOOD SHOPPING AND AT HOME

This study examines the impact of sociodemographic and nutrition/healt h related factors on consumers' use of nutritional labels while food s hopping, at home, and when comparing nutrients for different brands of the same foods. The results generally suggest that unemployed individ uals and those who place greater importance on nutrition while shoppin g and following the dietary guidelines are more likely to use nutritio nal labels while shopping, at home, or when comparing brands. Findings also indicate that education has a positive impact on the likelihood of using labels at home. The amount of time a consumer spends on shopp ing, primary source of nutritional information, special diet status, a nd consumer's perception of the importance of price and taste when sho pping are also significant factors.