Consumers' label reading habits and perceptions in terms of food safety

Tuyben, E. E., Consumers' Label Reading Habits and Perceptions in terms of Food Safety, Hacettepe University, Institute of Health Sciencies MSc Thesis in Food Service Systems, Ankara, 2018. This research was aimed to determine nutrition label reading habits and perceptions of food reliability of consumers'. In this study 404 individuals participated whose ages are between 19-64, live in Adana and buy food for tehmselves or their family. In this study general characteristics of individuals, habits of nutrition, smoking, alcohol using, reading of food labels and individual's opinions about packaging and brand, knowledge, food reliability and food product traceability system were questioned by the researcher. A face to face interview technique was applied. Data from individuals were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 program. In this study, most of the individuals' are between 25-54 years of age, and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.6±4.5 kg / m2 for women and 27.5±4.0 kg / m2 for men. A statistically significant differences was found between the food label reading habits and their level of income, the information that they are paying attention on the product label, meal plan, having information about food reliability and food safety certificates (p<0.05). There is statistically significant difference between having knowledge about food reliability and having knowledge about UDTS (p<0.05). But there is no significant difference between having knowledge about food reliability and using the tarcabilty system (UDTS) during the shopping (p>0.05). Because most of the participants indicated that using the traceability system (UDTS) will have positive effect on their food choice. It is important that consumers are educated about food reliability and food traceability for their trust in food industry and make healty coices.