GAMBARAN PERILAKU MEMBACA LABEL GIZI PADA MAHASISWA

Abstract

The increasing consumption of packaged foods and beverages among university students highlights the importance of nutrition labels as a source of information for making healthier food choices. However, the utilization of nutrition label information in daily practice remains varied. This study aimed to describe the behavior of reading nutrition labels among university students.

This study employed a descriptive survey design with a quantitative approach. A total of 36 students were selected using purposive sampling based on the criterion of having consumed packaged foods or beverages. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of 10 statements related to nutrition label reading behavior, measured using a five-point frequency scale. Data analysis was conducted descriptively and presented in the form of frequency distributions and percentages.

The results showed that the majority of respondents were classified as having a moderate level of nutrition label reading behavior (94.4%). Meanwhile, 2.8% of respondents were categorized as having low behavior and 2.8% as high behavior. The distribution of responses indicated that reading nutrition labels before purchasing products and paying attention to certain nutritional information were practiced by some students; however, these behaviors were not performed consistently, particularly when respondents were in a hurry or when purchasing products based on price considerations.

In conclusion, nutrition label reading behavior among university students has not yet reached an optimal level and is predominantly classified as moderate. Therefore, continuous nutrition education interventions in the university setting are needed to improve students’ consistency in utilizing nutrition label information when selecting packaged foods.