Use of nutritional information in Canada: national trends between 2004 and 2008

Abstract

Objective: To examine longitudinal trends in use of nutrition information among Canadians.

Design: Population-based telephone and Internet surveys.

Setting and participants: Representative samples of Canadian adults recruited with random-digit dialing sampling in 2004 (n = 2,405) and 2006 (n = 2,014) and an online commercial panel in 2008 (n = 2,001).

Main outcome measures: Sociodemographic predictors of label use, use of nutrition information sources, and nutrient content information.

Analysis: Linear and logistic regression models to examine predictors and changes over time.

Results: Food product labels were the most common source of nutritional information in 2008 (67%), followed by the Internet (51%) and magazines/newspapers (43%). The Internet was the only source to significantly increase during the study period (odds ratio = 1.39; P < .001); however, the frequency of reading food product labels increased since 2004. Food selection based on trans fat increased significantly in 2006 (odds ratio = 1.43; P < .001) after mandatory labeling of trans fat on packaged foods. Taste and nutrition were consistently the primary factors guiding food choice.

Conclusions and implications: Food product labels and the Internet are nutrition information sources with broad reach. More comprehensive labeling regulations were associated with increased use of labels and nutrient information over time.