Does food literacy influence healthy food choices? Findings from a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

Background Food literacy has emerged as an essential determinant of dietary behavior, encompassing the skills needed to access, understand, evaluate, and apply food- and nutrition-related information in daily life. Evidence examining food literacy and its relationship with healthy food choices among adults in Saudi Arabia remains limited. Objectives This study aimed to assess food literacy levels and healthy food-choice priorities among adults living in Saudi Arabia and to examine the association among food literacy, food-quality priorities, and sociodemographic factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey that included sociodemographic variables, a validated food quality questionnaire assessing food choice priorities, and the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire (SFLQ). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Associations between food literacy, food choice priorities, and sociodemographic factors were examined using chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. Results A total of 901 adults participated in the study. Higher food literacy was significantly associated with greater prioritization of health-related food attributes. Women and older adults demonstrated higher food literacy, whereas healthy food-choice priorities did not differ significantly by gender. Participants residing in the Western and Northern regions had higher odds of adequate food literacy than those in the Central region. Respondents with education up to high school were more likely to have adequate to excellent food literacy than those with higher education, while household income was not significantly associated with either food literacy or food choice priorities. Retired participants demonstrated healthier food-choice priorities than other employment groups. Conclusion Food literacy is associated with healthier food choice priorities among adults in Saudi Arabia and varies across sociodemographic and regional groups. However, higher food literacy does not consistently translate into more nutritious choices, underscoring the influence of environmental and structural factors. Skill-based, contextually tailored food literacy interventions may support healthier dietary behaviors and help reduce diet-related health disparities.