Public Perception Survey of Nutrition Labeling in Hong Kong

1. The University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Programme Public Perception Survey of Nutrition Labeling in Hong Kong Karie Pang HKU POP Assistant Director 10 February 2011

2. SURVEY BACKGROUND • Survey objectives: to understand the public’s habit of reading nutrition label; and awareness of energy needs and nutritional information. • HKU POP designed the survey questionnaire independently after consultation with Coca-Cola China Ltd. All operation, data collection and analysis are conducted by POP independently. POP is solely responsible for the survey results. • The survey method and results will be available for the public to review.

3. CONTACT INFORMATION

4. SURVEY RESULTS

5. About 90% of respondents do not routinely read the back-of-pack nutrition label when they buy food or beverages (Base=511) Q1Do you normally read the nutrition label on the package when you buy food or beverages?

6. Respondents who seldom or never read the label mainly feel it is not necessary to do so, or they are not used to doing so (Base=183) Q4(Only ask respondents who answered seldom or never in Q1) Why do you not read nutrition label? [Interviewers do not provide answer, respondents can choose more than one answer]

7. Sugar, carbohydrates and sodium are most commonly identified as being listed on a nutrition label “1+7” nutrition label (Base=511) Q2 Please try to name the nutrition information included in the nutrition label on product package. [Interviewers do not provide answer, respondents can choose more than one answer] (Top 10 responses)

8. Trans fat, sugar, energy nutritional information and sodium named as most important to consumers (Base=280) Q3 (Only ask respondents who answered always, often, sometimes and read the nutrition label when they buy a food or beverage product for the first time in Q1) Which three nutrition information do you think are most important to yourself? Please rank according to their importance.

9. SUMMARY(1) • About 90% of respondents do not routinely read the back-of-pack nutrition label when they buy food or beverages. Respondents lack awareness of what constitutes nutrition information. • Respondents in the habit of reading a nutrition label still cannot accurately name all components of the back-of-pack nutrition label. • Respondents who seldom or never read the label mainly feel it is not necessary to do so, or they are not used to doing so, especially for food and beverages consumed for some time.

10. No respondent can accurately rank the following six popular food and beverages in Hong Kong according to their energy levels (Energy per 100mL：350Kcal) (Energy per 100mL：310Kcal) (Energy per 100mL：130Kcal) (Energy per 100mL：48Kcal) (Energy per 100mL：44Kcal) (Energy per 100mL：41Kcal) (Base=501) Q5 Per 100g/100mL serving size, please rank the following items according to their energy level, from the highest to the lowest, 1 as the highest energy level as 6 as the lowest energy level: pineapple bun, egg tart, curry fish ball, Hong Kong style iced lemon tea, Hong Kong style iced milk tea and soft drinks. [Interviewers read out all of the answers, computerized sequence]

11. Half of respondents do not know their daily energy needs (Base=511) Q6 Do you know your daily energy needs? [If respondents answered yes] How much calories do you think you need daily? (Kcal)

12. Among those believing they know their energy needs, only 20% can correctly stated their daily energy needs (Base=511) Q6 Do you know your daily energy needs? [If respondents answered yes] How much calories do you think you need daily? (Kcal)

13. 55% of respondents never consider their daily energy needs before eating (Base=511) Q7 Do you consider your daily energy needs before eating or drinking normally?

14. SUMMARY(2) • No respondent can accurately rank the following six popular food and beverages in Hong Kong according to their energy levels. • Half of respondents do not know their daily energy needs. Among those believing they know their energy needs, only 20% of them correctly state their daily energy needs.

15. 30% of respondents do at least 20 minutes aerobic exercise three times or more per week (Base=510) Q8 How many times do you do 20 minutes or more aerobic exercise per week in average ? For example, running, playing tennis or swimming.

16. Only less than 30% of respondents agree that diet control and exercise are equally important for weight management (Base=511) Q9 If you have to control your weight or to loose some weight, do you think diet control or exercise are more important?

17. Perceptions: balanced diet and burning calories The older the age groups had more respondents agreed with the following two statements Agree：44% Disagree：49% • (Base=510) • [Q10-Q11] Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? • Balanced diet means no ice-cream, chocolates, sweets and soft drinks. • It is difficult to burn calories.

18. SUMMARY(3) • 30% of respondents do at least 20 minutes aerobic exercise three times or more per week. A quarter said they do not have the habit of doing exercise. • Only a quarter of respondents agree that diet control and exercise are equally important for weight management. Respondents misunderstand the basis of weight management and balanced diet.

19. Internet is the most common channel to find accurate nutritional information (Base=510) Q12 Where or by which channel do you normally go to for accurate nutritional information if need? [Interviewers do not provide answer, respondents can choose more than one answer] (First eight items)

20. Over 40% of respondents said they know where to find a qualified dietitian; mainly via hospitals/ clinics (Base=219，respondents can choose more than one answer) Q14 (Only ask respondents who answer “Yes” in Q13) Where you can find a qualified dietitian?[ Interviewers do not provide answer, respondents can choose more than one answer] (Base=508) Q13 Do you know where you can find a qualified dietitian?

21. The End!