Consumer Awareness and Usage of Nutrition Information in Botswana

Abstract

Nutrition information enables consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing and consuming food products. Despite this, the issue of consumer awareness and usage of nutrition information has attracted little research attention in developing countries. This study presents findings of an empirical investigation of nutrition information awareness and usage in Botswana. The study is descriptive and data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 150 consumers in Gaborone, the Capital City of Botswana. A mall-intercept technique was used in the selection of the respondents. The main findings of the study indicate that the level of awareness of nutrition information among the sampled consumers is relatively high, and that the majority of them use nutrition information to inform food purchases. The study further finds that whereas nutrition information awareness does not significantly differ across the demographic segments, usage differs. Lack of knowledge and interest are the main factors that prevent consumers from using nutrition information. Nutrition information is mostly used when comparing products or when buying food products for the first time. These findings highlight the need to improve nutrition education in Botswana. The findings also suggest that food producers in Botswana need to use nutrition information to differentiate their products from competitors'. Similarly, the findings highlight the need for the food industry in Botswana to establish more effective nutrition information labeling standards. However, these findings need to be interpreted with caution as they are based on consumers' self-report of nutrition information use, which is highly subjective.

Food Label Use and Awareness of Nutritional Information Among Consumers in Bahrain: An Exploratory Study

“…We believe that the main factors have been reported in other studies such as: the food was routine/familiar to them [19], or they do not believe and do not understand the food label [18]. According to Themba & Tanjo (2013), lack of nutrition knowledge, lack of interest, do not believe nutrition information on food products, small print on labels, read nutrition information only when purchasing food items for the first time and time pressures were ranked in order of priority [21]. Surveying perception of consumers about the importance of reading information on food labels, 48.4% perceived reading food label as very important, and 36.5%…”

Nutrition labelling: a review of research on consumer and industry response in the global South

“…Several demographic factors were associated with consumer label use and comprehension: education or socio-economic status, gender, family or household size, age, urban location, and ethnicity. Education level is positively associated with label use in India ( 30 – 32 ) , the United Arab Emirates ( 26 , 27 ), Mexico ( 35 ), Mauritius ( 43 ), and South Africa ( 44 ); socio-economic status is also positively associated with label use in Botswana ( 37 ). Gende r is a predictor of label use in studies from Malawi ( 41 ), Ghana ( 39 ), the United Arab Emirates ( 26 , 27 ), India ( 30 ), Mexico ( 35 ), Korea ( 23 ), and Singapore ( 25 ).…”

“…A study in Mauritius found significant label use among women but no association between gender and label understanding ( 43 ). Family and household size are positively associated with label use; consumers with larger families and those shopping for children are more likely to use the label ( 26 , 35 , 37 , 43 ), although household size was not a determinant in Pakistan ( 33 ). Age is also significant; however, age groups varied by country.…”

“…Additional factors include comparing products or purchasing a product for the first time, as seen in Botswana ( 37 ), Trinidad ( 36 ), India ( 31 ), Pakistan ( 33 ), and Mauritius ( 43 ). Consumers cite that they were looking for certain nutrition information, such as sugar, fats, calories, salt, or cholesterol.…”

Impacto del sistema gráfico de alertas “semáforo” en consumo de alimentos procesados

“…El sistema de semáforo nutricional puede llevar a que se discrimine el consumo de alimentos con etiqueta roja y por lo tanto se evite el consumo de grupos de alimentos esenciales para una dieta equilibrada (Hodgkins et al, 2012). Múltiples autores (Zaidi & Muhammad,2012;Themba & Tanjo, 2013)inclusive indican que los consumidores no observan la etiqueta para evaluar los componentes nutricionales del productos, sino, para analizar primero información como la fecha de caducidad, detalles del fabricante, información de seguridad, etc. Algunos consumidores incluso llegan a afirmar que leer la etiqueta de los productos es una molestia o que son el precio y el hábito los factores que ejercen influencia, mas no la etiqueta (Boztug et al, 2015).…”