Assessing Consumer’s Awareness of Food Labeling in Sunyani Municipality.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate consumer’s awareness of food labels in the Sunyani Municipality. Cross sectional survey was employed and questionnaire was used to gather primary data from 80 consumers who were found purchasing packaged foods in selected supermarkets in Area Four, a settlement in Sunyani Municipality with the most supermarkets. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study found that consumers’ awareness of food label was high and that most perceived importance of reading food labels were list of ingredients, expiry date, health reasons whereas nutritional value of the product, health consciousness, religious beliefs, preference of some food ingredients, food allergy were the main factors that motivate consumers to read food labels. The study also established that unfamiliar language other than English, small font sizes, when in hurry were some of the barriers encountered by consumers in reading food labels. The researchers recommended that stakeholders of food labeling should work on the reported barriers encountered by consumers in reading and ensuring that packaged food labels are presented in a manner that can help a consumer to make an informed choice.