Abstract
Food labels are found to be a very important public health tool that is used to promote a balanced diet and enhance public health and well-being. This study employed a cross-sectional design to explore the use of food labels by students in Public Universities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A sample size of one hundred and eighty-two (182) was obtained using a two-stage sampling technique. Specifically, the study described the frequency of reading specific information on food labels by the students in the universities. It, additionally, determined the prevalence, mean margin and intensity of use of food labels by the students in the universities. Lastly, it assessed the perception of the use of food labels by students in the universities. More respondents were males (54.40%) with ages ranging between 15-20years, 95% are single and reside within the campus with an annual income of ≤N20000 (65%). The most frequently read item was the name on the food labels. The percentage prevalence of those that read food labels is 40.11%, using the mean as a critical index while the disaggregated mean prevalence implied a gap of four items between those that use food labels and those that do not. The mean margin of students who read food labels using mean ufli as the critical index reports a gap of about three (3) items between respondents that use food labels and those on the threshold of using food labels. Price was perceived to be the most important item read. The study recommends use-specific programmes, anchored by government and non-governmental organisations to bridge the gap between those that use and those that do not use food labels