Nutritional Knowledge in Germany. A Representative Study
- 14.06.2011
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- Redaktion
Anja Austel, Simone Mickelat, Helmut Heseker, Thomas Ellrott, Göttingen und Paderborn
The nutritional IQ test contains 40 questions, covering a wide variety of aspects of nutritional knowledge. Both questions from older survey instruments and current questions are included. The results of the evaluation of a representative sample show that the nutritional knowledge of the German population is really good in some areas, but rather deficient in some aspects, particularly in practical questions.A comparison between the current results and identical or similar questions in older studies clearly shows that the knowledge of the German population in some areas – such as food labelling or energy requirements and consumption – has hardly improved during the last 10 or 20 years. Food labels such as “Fett i. Tr.“ [dry weight fat] or the difference between fruit juice and fruit nectar are still difficult to understand for many consumers. It would be very interesting for the consumer if he could be provided with a correct, reliable and comprehensible product declaration, accompanied by explanatory information. But it should be remembered that decisions on food are only partially controlled by information and knowledge. Thus it is unrealistic to expect that optimal product labelling alone would lead to important changes in eating behaviour.
Keywords: Nutritional knowledge, food labelling, eating behaviour, consumer
Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs Umschau 06/11 ab Seite 304.
