Food labels are essential tools that communicate critical nutritional and health information to consumers, guiding healthier choices. This study aims to develop and validate the Food Label Literacy Scale (FLLS) for adults.
The scale evaluates four core competencies: accessing, understanding, appraising and applying food label information. The study followed a three-stage process: (1) item generation through literature review, exploratory study and expert opinions, (2) exploratory factor analysis with 240 adults aged 18–65 and (3) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a separate sample of 354 adults. The scale’s reliability and validity were assessed through internal consistency analysis, criterion validity testing and test-retest reliability.
The final FLLS consists of 32 items across five factors. CFA results demonstrated good model fit (χ²/df = 2.255, RMSEA = 0.060, CFI = 0.956, GFI = 0.946, NFI = 0.944, SRMR = 0.066). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.945). The scale also showed acceptable test-retest reliability and positive correlations with existing food literacy measures.
The effectiveness of food labels depends on consumers’ ability to interpret and use food label information. However, to the authors’ knowledge, no validated tool exist to measure the ability to use food labeling with a health literacy approach in adults.
