Perceived Food Label Literacy and Use in Relation to Demographic Characteristics and Food Consumption Among Adults in Seoul: Analysis of Data from the Seoul Food Survey 2025.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to identify demographic factors associated with perceived food label literacy and use among adults in Seoul and to examine differences in food consumption across perceived food label literacy and use groups. Methods: This study analyzed secondary data from the Seoul Food Survey 2025, which included 3024 adults aged ≥18 years. Perceived food label literacy and use were each dichotomized into high and low levels, yielding four groups based on their combination. Logistic regression and analysis of covariance were used to examine demographic factors and differences in food consumption. Results: The proportions of the high literacy-high use, high literacy-low use, low literacy-high use, and low literacy-low use groups were 37.5%, 21.4%, 12.1%, and 28.9%, respectively. Compared with the high literacy-high use group, men were more likely than women, and individuals with lower educational levels were more likely than those with a college graduation or higher to belong to both the high literacy-low use and low literacy-low use groups. The low literacy-low use group reported more frequent consumption of several processed foods, such as high-fat bread/snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages, and less frequent consumption of several fresh foods, such as fruits and whole grains, than at least one other group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Men and individuals with lower educational levels emerged as potential priority populations for food label interventions addressing both perceived food label literacy and use. Those with low literacy and low use showed less favorable food consumption patterns.