Determination of university students' trust to specific packaged foods, knowledge and usage level of food labels considering different BMI levels

The aim of this study is to evaluate consumers' perception of specific packaged foods and drinks, light / diet products, organic foods and food label usage behavior depending on distrust against food industry displays an overall increase in Turkey lately. Data was obtained by using a survey consisting of 14 multiple-choice questions and conducted with 299 university students (M/F=78/221) who were included randomly from three courses; Nutrition and Dietetic (NAD), Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (PTR) and Gastronomy and Culinary Arts (GCA) in Spring Semester of 2017-2018 academic year. Total results were interpreted by taking Body Mass Index (BMI) as the key variable. As a result, a raising distrust against packaged foods and drinks was observed. Despite accepting UHT milk, packaged yoghurt, light milk groups as healthy based on their nutritional knowledge, most of them were found worried about additives inside packaged breads and light / diet snacks. With BMI values equal to or greater than 25, students' having lower food label reading rate and being less concerned about nutritional loss can be investigated in further research in the field of obesity. Key words: Consumer Behavior, Consumer Trust, Packaged Foods, Food Labeling, Obesity