Wimalin is a Thai PhD Candidate at RSPH and has received a Royal Thai government scholarship from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. She completed her Masters in food and nutrition for development from Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University. In 2010, she was a university lecturer at Suan Dusit Rajabhat University teaching food science and safety, and nutrition. She participated in several research projects on food and nutrition in Thailand such as the joint FAO/INMU project of mobile kitchen car for disaster relief and a project of policy recommendation for Thai nutrition promotion.

Abstract

Thailand is a country that has defeated malnutrition and now confronts a new and complex nutritional challenge. Processed foods high in sodium and sugar are contributing to high prevalence of diet-related non-communicable disease (NCD). Nutrition labelling is part of the response, to promote healthier consumption and to combat diet-related NCD. Nutrition labels have been displayed on Thai food products since 1998 but there is a lack of research in the international literature about Thai nutrition labelling. This thesis aims to fill the information gap and to assist the development of Thai nutrition labelling policies. In this seminar Wimalin will present an overview of her PhD research and key findings from 4 papers (3 published and 1 under review). She will describe the evolution of nutrition labelling in Thailand, and factors influencing consumer experiences with nutrition labels. Recommendations to improve a better Thai nutrition labelling in the future will also be discussed.

Wimalin will describe key findings of her research on the history of Thai food labelling from the 1910s until present. In the past, Thai food labelling regulations were originally developed to protect consumers from adulterated imported foods. Thai nutrition labelling has developed along with social and economic changes and is influenced by a variety of issues including the developing food industry, consumer movement, international trade, and health transition.

For assessing consumer interactions with nutrition labelling, both qualitative and quantitative studies were conducted. Qualitative interviews contribute to better understanding of consumer motivations that could influence nutrition label use, and difficulties and barriers that could make them skip reading the labels. Quantitative analysis was used to determine the association between nutrition label experiences, socio-demographic factors, and consumption behaviours.