Resumo (EN)
Objective – To analyze the difficulties that consumers of two conventional supermarkets, one in the city of Taboão da Serra and another in the central region of São Paulo, are faced with the information found on the labels of food, as well as their knowledge related to nutrition. Methods – This is a descriptive transversal. For the research a questionnaire was pre tested where it was possible to evaluate qualitative variables as gender, education level, marital status, and also qualitative variables related to the importance attached to the labels of foods and their nutritional information. Continuous quantitative variables can be evaluated: age and family income. Fifty consumers were interviewed in each supermarket. Results – It was found that in the two supermarkets consumers had difficulties in interpreting the information contained on food labels and nutritional information table, and these difficulties are justified by the language used on food labels. More than half of consumers in conventional supermarkets do not consider important the nutrition information contained on food labels. About 70% of those interviewed in the two supermarkets claim to understand partially the information contained on food labels. Conclusion – We conclude that consumers have difficulty in relation to the understanding and use of information on labels and nutritional information for health maintenance. It is recommended to intensify education campaigns targeted at the whole society.