Awareness, comprehension, and usage of food package labels and serving size information among higher education students in Pune, Maharashtra, India

Food labeling plays a crucial role in promoting informed dietary choices and preventing diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the effectiveness of food labels depends on consumers’ awareness, comprehension, and usage of the provided information. This study assessed the awareness, comprehension, and usage of food package labels and serving size information among higher education students in Pune, Maharashtra, India. This was cross-sectional survey that was conducted at various institutions and colleges in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The sample comprised 401 students, including 292 females (72.8%) and 109 males (27.2%). Data were collected through a structured, pretested, and validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed using IBM SPSS Statistic (Version 27). A high proportion of participants (93.5%) were aware of food labels; however, only 64.8% were knowledgeable about government regulations, and 38.7% were familiar with the ‘Eat Right Campus’ initiative. Despite this, comprehension was generally low, with 51.6% demonstrating poor comprehension and only 21.7% showing good comprehension. Similarly, utilization was suboptimal, with 56.9% reporting moderate use and only 8.7% good use. More than half of participants (54.4%) reported difficulty interpreting serving size information. The most commonly reported barrier to label use was lack of time (36.1%). Significant associations were observed between comprehension and level of education (p = 0.04), field of study (p = 0.03), and country of origin (p = 0.02), while utilization was associated with country of origin (p = 0.007). The study’s results align with previous research indicating that while food label awareness is high, comprehension and usage remain suboptimal. Given the increasing burden of diet-related diseases, there is a critical need for targeted nutrition education programs and policy interventions to enhance food label literacy.