Abstract:

European Union is funding a 7th Framework Program Project named Food Labeling to Advance Better Education for Life (FLABEL) in 27 European countries and Turkey for the years 2008-2011. The second work package of this project entails consumer perception and evaluation of information on food labels. For this work package, an experiment was pursued in Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Business, Turkey. The respondents were shown food labels that they have seen before or have never seen before which are frequently used in different European countries. The study uses experiment and questionnaire methods. For the collection and storage of experimental work, an eye-tracker device connected to a special computer and relevant computer programs were used. The results of the study in Turkey demonstrate that respondents do not have sufficient information and experience in the perception and evaluation of nutrition values on food labels. There is no previous study on food labels and healthy nutrition in Turkey using eye- tracking devices. This study is a first attempt in applying the eye tracking experiment to explore consumers' choice for healthy food.

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