Percepção e conhecimento dos consumidores de Pelotas/RS a respeito da rotulagem de alimentos: IN 75/2020 e RDC 429/2020

Abstract

The nutritional labeling of foods provides information on their nutritional properties, including the declaration of energy value and the main nutrients. Nutritional warnings as labels on the front of the package were implemented as a public warning, a policy that helps consumers recognize processed foods with high levels of critical nutrients such as sodium, saturated fats and sugar. However, despite this tool being well positioned in consumer decision-making, there is little knowledge about the relationship between the message sent by front-of-package labeling, nutritional knowledge, consumer motivation and their perception of the new labeling. This is a cross-sectional observational epidemiological study, conducted with consumers in a macro wholesale store in the city of Pelotas/RS, through the application of a questionnaire with 18 mixed questions containing information on the habit of reading labels and their knowledge of the new food labeling. The sample consisted of 384 interviewees, with the inclusion criterion being men and women between the ages of 20 and 89 years. The general objective of this study is to evaluate consumers' perception and knowledge regarding the IN 75/2020 and RDC 429/2020 labeling in Pelotas/RS. The study allowed us to evaluate consumers' perception and knowledge about reading labels and its influence at the time of purchase. As a result, females, consumers aged between 20 and 49 years old, single and married, and interviewees who have completed higher education were the audiences that read the labels the most. In addition, 60% of the consumers interviewed read the labels, 65.1% are unaware of the new labeling, and 87.8% did not change their consumption after the change in legislation. Also, among consumers who read the labels, 88.5% check the expiration date, 64.1% pay attention to reading nutritional information, such as sodium, calories, or fat.