Nutrition fact label (NFL) use is related to meeting the requirements for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey VIII (2019–2021) for the prepandemic and pandemic periods

by Jung Min Cho

The credibility and wide usability of nutrition fact labels (NFLs) have increased due to the pandemic, which may lead to healthier nutritional choices. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between NFL use and meeting the estimated average requirements (EARs) for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs during the prepandemic (2019, n = 6606) and pandemic periods (2020 and 2021, n = 12085) using KNHANES data. Household surveys, health behavior interviews, and health checkup examinations were conducted for all participants. Subjects were included in the unAware+noUse, Aware+noUse, and Aware+Use groups according to NFL usage, and nutritional intake was analyzed by the 24-hour recall method. Complex-sample multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for meeting the EARs according to NFL usage in the crude and adjusted (including metabolic conditions) models. The primary finding was that awareness and NFL use were associated with adequate intake above the EARs for vitamin A, vitamin B₂, niacin, folate, Ca, Fe, and P; this association was more evident during the pandemic. After adjusting for covariates, during the pandemic, the ORs of meeting the EARs in the Aware+noUse group and Aware+Use group were 1.25 (CI 1.06–1.47) and 1.36 (CI 1.05–1.75) for vitamin A, 1.26 (CI 1.06–1.50) and 1.54 (CI 1.19–2.00) for vitamin B₂, 1.32 (CI 1.13–1.56) and 1.46 (CI 1.15–1.85) for folate, and 1.46 (CI 1.06–2.00) and 1.73 (1.09–2.75) for P, respectively. Additionally, the ORs for niacin (1.21, 1.02–1.43) and Fe (1.29, 1.08–1.54) were significant in the Aware+noUse group, and that for Ca (1.39, 1.08–1.78) was significant in the Aware+Use group (all p <0.05). In conclusion, NFL awareness and use are associated with meeting the EARs for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs. For future recurring health crises, effective NFL use is necessary for healthy dietary practices.