The label has the task of guiding the consumer on the constituents of food, promoting healthy food choices. However, this does not mean that consumers are using as a tool to choose which foods should make up your diet, and thus reduce overeating and damages health. This is a cross-sectional study, which evaluated the habit of reading labels for consumers in a supermarket chain in Pelotas, RS. It was found that 48.13% of respondents evaluate food labels. Users of labeling are mostly women, young people and university graduates. A significant association between reading habits and influence on the purchase of products, which shows the importance of labeling as a tool in the purchase, since it represents a communication link between the consumer and the product is well understood and allows choices food more insightful.
Nutritional labeling; Nutritional information; Consumer's behavior