Abstract Ready-to-eat (RTE) products are increasingly consumed by college students due to their convenience, taste, and easy availability. However, frequent consumption of packaged and ultra-processed foods is associated with poor dietary quality and increased risk of obesity and other non-communicable diseases. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) related to RTE products among college students in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and data were collected from 110 respondents aged 17–28 years using a self-constructed structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using frequency and percentage. The findings showed that RTE consumption was highly prevalent, with many respondents consuming such products frequently or daily. Packaged snacks, beverages, instant noodles, and bakery products were the most commonly consumed items. Knowledge regarding nutritional content, food labeling regulations, ingredient information, health risks, and storage guidelines was found to be limited among respondents. Attitude assessment indicated that a majority of students had poor or very poor attitude scores towards healthy decision-making related to RTE intake. Practices such as checking nutrition labels and following storage/preparation guidelines were also inadequate. The study highlights the need for nutrition education and awareness programmes focusing on food label literacy, safe food handling, and healthier dietary choices among college students. Keywords: Ready-to-eat foods; College students; Knowledge; Attitude; Practices; Ultra-processed foods; Food labeling; Consumption pattern; Nutrition awareness; Agra.
Yadav et al. (Sat,) studied this question.