Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Regarding Food Allergen Labeling Among Allergic Population in Jiangxi Province, China.

Food allergy is an increasing global public health concern, posing significant challenges to individual well-being and food safety. Effective management of food allergies relies heavily on the avoidance of allergens, making food allergen labeling a critical tool for allergic consumers. This study investigates the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of food allergen labeling among allergic consumers in Jiangxi Province, China, with a particular focus on behavioral and motivational aspects influencing allergen avoidance. Offline questionnaire surveys were conducted with allergic individuals recruited from randomly selected hospitals across Jiangxi Province. A systematic analysis of 794 valid responses revealed that the overall KAP levels related to food allergen labeling were suboptimal, with only 31.94% of food allergic respondents achieving a satisfactory health education evaluation. In the food-allergic group, education and income were the primary influencing factors. Among non-food-allergic allergic individuals, KAP scores were influenced by gender, age, education, and family history of food allergy. Moreover, confusion over allergen labeling content and difficulty in understanding precautionary allergen labeling were major barriers to effective use. These findings highlight critical gaps in consumer's KAP regarding allergen labeling in Jiangxi Province and underscore the necessity of targeted educational interventions and improved labeling practices. This study provided a regionalized perspective that can inform future tailored strategies to mitigate food allergy risks and improve public health outcomes.