Is consumer knowledge of trans fatty acids related to nutrition label usage

This study examined consumer knowledge of trans fatty acids (TFAs) in relation to nutrition facts label usage. A survey of 110 supermarket consumers was conducted using a researcher-constructed questionnaire measuring consumer knowledge of trans fatty acids and determined if a relationship with nutrition label reading behaviors existed. This study discovered consumer knowledge of TFAs does exist. The mean score of consumers who had heard of TFAs was 7.39 +/- 1.800. No statistical difference existed in TFA knowledge scores between consumers with a self-perceived heart disease and stroke risk versus those without (p =.214). A statistical difference in TFA knowledge scores was found between nutrition fact label readers and non-readers (p = .042).