Samenvatting

In Dutch supermarkets, 80% of food products do not comply with the principles of the Dutch Dietary Guidelines. Navigating the maze of consumer choice and product interpretation in the supermarket environment is a complex process. This study investigated what (sources of) information Dutch consumers (aged 16-75) use when making and evaluating healthy product choices in the supermarket, and whether the use of and trust in information differs according to different consumer characteristics. A mixed methods approach was used to collect this information in two consecutive studies, consisting of an online survey (n = 395) and in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 8). The results show that the list of ingredients, the nutrition table, the Nutri-Score, certification marks and nutrition claims are the most commonly used product information for making and evaluating healthy choices in the supermarket. Attitudes towards the Nutri-Score varied among consumers, with significantly more positive attitudes among those with no background in nutrition and positive correlations with trust in the government and the food industry. In terms of sources of nutrition-related information, consumers currently trust and use scientists and the government the most. Trust in the government to provide nutrition information also varies between consumers, with men having significantly more trust than women, and is positively correlated with education level and trust in the food industry. Trust in the food industry was negatively correlated with age and education level. A follow-up study observing the use of product information is needed to determine actual consumer behaviour in the supermarket.