Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42062818›Full record

ArticleJournal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association2026

Nutrition Literacy, Hydration Awareness and Food Label Use in School Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students and Teachers Across European Contexts.

Donatella Coradduzza, Giannagelo Boccuzzi, Giancarlo Masi, Christian Porstner, Raphaël Dubé, Nikolas Nikolaou, Stefania Sedda, Maja Merdovic, Serenella Medici, Ciriaco Carru and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Nutrition Literacy, Hydration Awareness and Food Label Use in School Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students and Teachers Across European Contexts.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Donatella CoradduzzaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8978-0490
Giannagelo BoccuzziMine Vaganti NGO, Sassari, Italy.
Giancarlo MasiMine Vaganti NGO, Sassari, Italy.
Christian PorstnerNGO NEST Berlin e.V., Berlin, Germany.
Raphaël DubéUniversité des Antilles, Guadeloupe, France.
Nikolas NikolaouDepartment of Education, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Stefania SeddaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Maja MerdovicInstitute for Public Health of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Serenella MediciDepartment of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Ciriaco CarruDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6985-4907
Roberto SolinasMine Vaganti NGO, Sassari, Italy.
Maria Grazia PirinaMine Vaganti NGO, Sassari, Italy.

Funding

Erasmus+ Program 2023-1-FR01-KA220-SCH-000160068
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNutrition literacy is increasingly recognised as a key determinant of dietary behaviours and long-term public health outcomes. Schools represent strategic settings for strengthening nutrition literacy-related competencies, including hydration awareness and food label use, yet comparative. However, descriptive cross-country evidence across European school contexts remains limited.

methodsA cross-sectional, school-based survey was conducted among 432 students (aged 11-16 years) and 108 teachers across five European contexts (Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Serbia and Guadeloupe [France]). Culturally adapted questionnaires developed within the Erasmus+ GARDENS project assessed predefined domains of nutrition knowledge (food groups, macronutrient functions, fibre, vitamins and minerals), hydration awareness, food label use and selected sustainability-related concepts. Knowledge items were coded dichotomously (correct/incorrect), and behavioural indicators were analysed descriptively. Cross-country comparisons were exploratory.

resultsTeachers in Germany and Italy reported higher levels of hydration awareness (> 90%) and food label use (≥ 75%), whereas lower self-reported food label literacy was observed in Guadeloupe (48%). Among students, incorrect responses to nutrient-function items (defined as misconceptions) were observed in 40% of the overall sample, with higher proportions in Guadeloupe and Serbia. Cross-country variability was present across all assessed domains.

conclusionsMarked substantial descriptive differences in nutrition literacy knowledge, hydration awareness and food label use were observed across school populations in selected European contexts. These findings provide baseline public health evidence supporting the integration of nutrition literacy-particularly hydration and food labelling-into school-based health promotion strategies, with attention to equity and contextual factors. These findings provide baseline evidence to inform school-based health promotion strategies and highlight the relevance of contextual and equity-related considerations. Further research using validated instruments and inferential designs is warranted.

Indexed as

DrinkingFood LabelingHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth LiteracySchool TeachersStudentsAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesEuropeEuropean PeopleFemaleHumansMaleSchoolsSerbiafood labellinghealth promotionnutrition literacy, hydrationnutrition literacy, public health nutritionschool healthsustainability

Identifiers

PMID42062818
PMCPMC13133250

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.