Background:

Nutritional labeling enables consumers to make better food choices, helping to fight chronic non-communicable diseases.

Objective:

To determine the influence of the interpretation of the nutritional labeling, present in industrialized foods in Colombia, on the purchase decision of undergraduate students in the health area of the CES University.

Material and Methods:

A descriptive observational study was carried out in a population of 76 fifth-semester students enrolled in the undergraduate programs of the health area.

Results:

The frequency of nutrition labeling use was associated with sex (p=0.036), the type of undergraduate program (p<0.001), and knowledge of the function of the nutrition labeling (p=0.000). A good interpretation of the nutrition labeling does not condition the frequency of its use (p=0,095). Additionally, the level of interpretation of the nutritional labeling was not associated with sex, nor the type of undergraduate program. Finally, it was found that the purchase decision was influenced by custom (p=0.018) and advertising (p=0,008), and not by the interpretation of the nutrition labeling.

Conclusions:

Although the use of nutrition labeling is more frequent among women, among students of Nutrition and Dietetics, and among those who are aware of the role of nutrition labeling, the purchase decision is not influenced by its interpretation.

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