Consumer awareness and understanding, usage and attitude towards food labelling in Sunninghill and Alexandra, Sandton, South Africa

Background: Overweight and obesity are major public health concerns in South Africa. To address this, the Department of Health (DOH) has proposed Regulation R3337, introducing front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) to support healthier food choices. However, consumer understanding and use of food labels remain low. Without targeted education, the effectiveness of FOPNL may be limited, highlighting the need for context-specific nutrition label education. The objective of the study was to assess awareness and understanding, usage and attitude towards food labels among consumers in Sandton, Gauteng.Design: This study employed a cross-sectional design.Setting: Sunninghill and Alexandra in Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa.Subjects: South African adults (n = 385) were selected through convenience sampling, evenly divided between the two locations.Outcome measure: Levels of perception and use of food labels were assessed through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire.Results: Participants from both locations demonstrated limited awareness and understanding of several food labelling components. Use of date labels (e.g. ‘best before’, ‘use by’ and ‘sell by’) was relatively similar across locations, with 20.7% of participants in Sunninghill and 20.3% in Alexandra reporting frequent use, p < 0.001. No significant difference was found between groups regarding the awareness and understanding, usage and attitude towards food labels p < 0.001.Conclusion Consumers demonstrated limited awareness and engagement with food labels, regardless of education, income or location. Consumer education on food labelling is needed to promote informed purchasing decisions.