Evaluating the awareness and importance of food labelling information among consumers in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana

Food labelling is an important communication tool between consumers and food manufactures. Consumers' ability to read and understand information on a food label is vital. This study was aimed at determining the relevance of food label information to consumers in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Structured questionnaires were administered to 455 respondents who were randomly selected from retail centres in Adum, Kumasi. Respondents buying indicators were in the order of expiry data, nutritional information, ingredients, taste and appearance with product price being the least. Respondents were generally conscious of date markings. Food related diseases of most concern to respondents were Diabetes (35.60%) and Hypertension (25.1%). About 45% of respondents were concerned with colour additives in food. Whiles about 89% of respondents had ever read storage instructions, 84.8% actually followed the storage instructions. Conclusively, respondents were fairly knowledgeable in the use of food label information. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.