University Student's Knowledge, Practices, and Perceptions of Food Packaging Labels in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Food packaging labels play a crucial role in ensuring consumer safety and aiding informed decision-making. However, in Bangladesh, limited research exists on students' understanding and use of food packaging labels. This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, practices, and consumer preferences of food labeling among 397 students from various public and private universities across Bangladesh. A self-administered questionnaire, developed based on food safety regulations, was used for data collection. The study employed convenience sampling, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0, including descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Spearman's rho correlation to evaluate relationships between knowledge and practices. The study found that 74.8% of students had adequate knowledge of food labeling, with high awareness of "Expiry Date" and "Nutritional Information," but limited understanding of "Batch Number" and "Packaging Symbols". Only 44.3% demonstrated good labeling practices, with gaps in checking "Best Before" dates, allergen content, and barcodes. Gender and residential background significantly influenced knowledge and practices (