CONSUMER UTILIZATION OF FOOD LABELING AS A SOURCE OF NUTRITION INFORMATION

The factors which influence consumer usage of food labels are investigated by a qualitative response model using the 1987-1988 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey data. Econometric results show that economic, sociodemographic, and consumer health awareness variables are determinants of food label usage. The implications of these findings include formulating government food labeling regulations and consumer educational programs and evaluating consumer health benefits of using food labels.