Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Food-Label Reading and Healthy Food Choices among University Students in Sialkot, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Corresponding author: Aniq Ur Rehman; aniq.rehman@gaus.edu.pk
Abstract
Food labels can support healthier food choices, but access to nutrition information does not guarantee that consumers understand or use it. University students are increasingly responsible for their own dietary decisions and are heavily exposed to packaged foods. To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding food label reading and healthy food choices among university students, to examine associations between selected variables and KAP, and to identify barriers to label use. A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 200 university students aged 18 years or older, recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected with a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, food-label knowledge, attitudes and label-reading practices, and were analysed in SPSS with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests (significance, p < 0.05). Percentages are based on 199 analysable responses. Overall knowledge was good in 50.8%, moderate in 43.7% and poor in 5.5% of students, and attitudes were positive in 54.8% and moderate in 45.2%; none was negative. Students knew the meaning of expiry dates (89.9%), the Nutrition Facts Panel (88.4%) and the link between sodium and hypertension (86.9%), but only 47.7% understood serving size and 45.7% could compare two products. Most agreed that label reading is important for health (92.5%), yet 67.3% found it too time-consuming and 82.4% wanted labels to be easier to understand. Only 10.1% always and 44.7% often read labels before purchase, and 24.1% never compared products. Attitude level was associated with practice (χ² = 12.445, p = 0.014), whereas knowledge level was not (χ² = 3.127, p = 0.537). Knowledge level differed by gender (p < 0.001). Students had moderate-to-good knowledge and favourable attitudes, but label-reading practice was inconsistent, indicating a knowledge–practice gap. Education should emphasise practical skills, particularly serving size and product comparison, and should be supported by clearer labels and healthier campus food environments.
Keywords: University students; Nutrition literacy; Food labels; Nutrition labelling; Knowledge, Attitudes and practices; Healthy food choices
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Declarations
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Ethics approval
The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Grand Asian University, Sialkot, Pakistan (Approval Reference No. ref-1955-gaus-3951fnas). The research was conducted in accordance with applicable institutional ethical guidelines and the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Informed consent
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their inclusion in the study. Participation was voluntary, and confidentiality of the collected information was maintained.
Data availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to applicable ethical and confidentiality requirements.
Author contributions
Areeha Javaid, Aniq Ur Rehman, Habiba Shahzad, and Touseef Iqbal contributed equally to the conceptualization, investigation, data collection, data analysis, and preparation of the original manuscript. Touseef Iqbal and Iftikhar Younis Mallhi contributed to the critical review, intellectual evaluation, and substantive revision of the manuscript. Aniq Ur Rehman also contributed to study supervision and research coordination. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.
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OpenAI ChatGPT was used to assist with language refinement during manuscript revision. The authors are responsible for verifying all suggestions and approving the accuracy and integrity of the final article.
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Areeha Javaid, Aniq Ur Rehman*, Habiba Shahzad, Touseef Iqbal, Iftikhar Younis Mallhi. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Food-Label Reading and Healthy Food Choices among University Students in Sialkot, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Biological and Sustainability Sciences. 2026;2(1):46-57. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23939766