Investigation of the effect of nutri-score nutrition label on food choice of dormitory university students

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of Nutri-Score on the perceived health, taste and purchase intention of the product in university students living in dormitories. It was also aimed to evaluate the effect of hedonic hunger on food choice. The study was conducted on 217 individuals, 166 (%76.5) of whom were women and 51 (%23.5) of whom were men. By applying an online survey form to the participants, their socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes towards nutrition labels, attention to nutrition labels, eating habits, hedonic hunger states and their answers to the Nutri-Score labeled and unlabeled status of the products were evaluated. Hedonic hunger status was determined by the Power of Food Scale. As a result of the analysis, while there was a positive difference in perceived health for the product with the letter "B" (p<0.05), no difference was seen in perceived taste and purchase intention (p>0.05). While there was a positive difference in perceived health, perceived taste and purchase intention for the product with the letter "E" (p<0.05), there was a negative difference for the product with the letter "C" (p<0.05). Hedonic hunger was detected in 187 (%86.17) of the participants. In individuals with hedonic hunger, while there was a positive difference in perceived health for the product with the letter "B" (p<0.05), while no difference was seen in perceived taste and purchase intention (p>0.05). For the product with the letter "E", a positive difference was observed in perceived health, perceived taste and purchase intention (p<0.05). For the product with the letter "C", there was a negative difference in perceived health, perceived taste and purchase intention (p<0.05). In individuals without hedonic hunger, there was a positive difference in perceived health for the product with the letter "B" (p<0.05), while no difference was seen in perceived taste and purchase intention (p>0.05). For products with the letters "E" and "C", there was no difference in perceived health, perceived taste and purchase intention (p>0.05). As a result, it has been observed that Nutri-Score and hedonic hunger are effective in food choices. Using Nutri-Score in Turkey can positively impact eating habits by encouraging healthy food choices. Keywords: Nutri-Score, Food Label, University Students, Food Choice, Hedonic Hunger