Abstract
Abstract : Nutritional labelling systems are some measures available for effectively communicating food’s nutritional value. There are several nutritional labelling systems available, peculiar to each country and region. This study investigated globally available nutritional labelling systems and probed the effectiveness of three existing and two proposed South African systems in communicating the nutritional value of food. A quantitative research methodology executed on an online system, interrogated the extent to which South African consumers make use of available nutritional labelling systems when making food choices. The participants’ understanding of the systems was further cross-examined by requesting them to indicate the system(s) appropriate for the management of diet related health conditions such as non-communicable diseases. Findings indicate that nutritional labelling systems are considered important by a majority of participants and are indeed used when making food choices. The findings also confirm that participants have a clear understanding of the impact of food in the development of non-communicable diseases. Nonetheless, some participants confirm challenges with interpreting nutritional labelling systems. Findings indicated a preference for Nestlé know your serving device (NKYS) (76%), followed by the Teaspoon nutritional illustration system (TNI) (69%), Nutritional Information Table (NIT) (68%) and Guideline daily allowance buttons (GDA) (67%), with the Traffic light labelling system (TLL) (52%) receiving the lowest preference. The preference for NKYS, TNI and NIT labelling systems indicates that participants are made up of two groups. The first group consists of participants with preferences for numerical data as presented with the NIT and GDA. The second group is participants with a preference for graphical data as presented with the NKYS, TNI and TLL. It can be concluded that using nutritional labelling systems which present both numerical and graphical data on a food label will improve consumers’ understanding of nutritional information, thus allowing informed food choices.
M.Tech. (Food Technology)