Awareness of Food Label Information and Its Influence on Healthy Food Purchase Practices among Lecturers in Lagos Tertiary Institutions

Food labels provide essential nutritional information that enables consumers to make informed and healthier food choices. This study examined food label awareness and its influence on healthy food purchase practices among lecturers in selected tertiary institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study involved 130 lecturers selected through simple random sampling from three tertiary institutions. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through Google Forms. The instrument was validated by experts, while a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.79 established its reliability. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and linear regression at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that lecturers demonstrated a high level of awareness of food label information (Grand Mean = 3.25), while the utilization of food labels was moderate (Grand Mean = 2.87). Respondents reported that food-label information positively influenced their healthy food-purchase practices (Grand Mean = 3.18)., whereas barriers such as small font size, technical terminology, shopping time constraints, and the high cost of healthier food products limited effective utilization (Grand Mean = 3.17). Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between food label awareness and healthy food purchase practices (r = 0.62, p < 0.05). Linear regression further indicated that food label utilization significantly predicted healthy food purchase practices (β = 0.54, p < 0.05). The study concludes that although lecturers possess substantial awareness of food label information, practical barriers hinder its consistent utilization. It recommends intensified nutrition education, consumer-friendly food label designs, and stronger public awareness initiatives to promote healthier dietary choices among consumers.