Researchers in Lebanon created and tested a new questionnaire to measure how well adults understand food and nutrition—what experts call “food literacy.” They surveyed 450 Lebanese adults and found the tool works reliably for measuring food knowledge and skills. The study showed that men scored higher than women on food literacy, and people who struggle to afford food had lower scores. This new tool could help doctors, nutritionists, and public health workers better understand and improve how people make food choices in Lebanon and other Arabic-speaking countries.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a questionnaire about food knowledge and cooking skills works well for measuring food literacy in Lebanese adults
  • Who participated: 450 Lebanese adults (average age 46 years, 59% women) from all eight regions of Lebanon, selected to represent the whole country
  • Key finding: The questionnaire proved to be reliable and accurate for measuring food literacy. Men scored significantly higher than women (32.80 vs 28.76 points), and people with food insecurity had lower food literacy scores.
  • What it means for you: This tool can now be used by health professionals in Lebanon to identify who needs help improving their food knowledge and cooking skills. However, this is a measurement tool study—it doesn’t yet tell us how to improve food literacy, just how to measure it accurately.

The Research Details

Researchers took an existing food literacy questionnaire (called the SFLQ) that was created in another country and adapted it to fit Lebanese culture and language. They translated it carefully and made sure the questions made sense for Lebanese adults. Then they gave this adapted questionnaire to 450 Lebanese adults selected from all eight regions of the country between December 2022 and March 2023. This approach ensures the tool reflects how Lebanese people actually think about food, not just a direct translation that might miss cultural differences.

The researchers used a statistical method called Confirmatory Factor Analysis to check if the questionnaire measured what it was supposed to measure. They also tested whether the tool worked the same way for men and women, and whether it accurately reflected people’s real food knowledge and skills by comparing it to other measures like food insecurity.

Having a reliable, culturally appropriate tool is essential because food literacy—understanding how to choose, prepare, and eat healthy foods—is linked to better health outcomes and lower obesity rates. Without a proper measurement tool designed for Lebanese culture, health workers couldn’t accurately assess people’s food knowledge or track whether programs to improve food literacy actually work. This study provides that missing tool.

The study used a nationally representative sample from all regions of Lebanon, which means the results likely apply to Lebanese adults generally. The questionnaire showed strong internal consistency (a measure of reliability), meaning people answered similar questions consistently. The researchers also confirmed the tool works the same way for both men and women. However, the study only measured whether the tool works—it didn’t test whether improving food literacy actually improves health outcomes.

What the Results Show

The adapted food literacy questionnaire proved to be a reliable and valid tool for Lebanese adults. When researchers analyzed the data, they found the questionnaire measured food literacy consistently and accurately. The tool contains 12 questions that work together to assess different aspects of food knowledge and skills.

The study revealed important differences between groups. Men had significantly higher food literacy scores than women (32.80 points versus 28.76 points on average). This difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to have happened by chance. The researchers also found that people who reported struggling to afford food or having food insecurity had lower food literacy scores, suggesting that financial stress and food knowledge are connected.

The questionnaire worked equally well for measuring food literacy in both men and women, meaning it’s fair and unbiased across genders. This is important because it means the tool can be used confidently with any Lebanese adult regardless of sex.

The study found that the questionnaire’s 12 questions naturally grouped together into one main factor measuring overall food literacy, rather than breaking down into separate categories. Some pairs of questions were more closely related to each other than others, which the researchers accounted for in their analysis. The tool showed strong internal consistency, with a reliability score of 0.86 (on a scale where 1.0 is perfect)—this means the questionnaire reliably measures the same concept across all its questions.

This is the first time the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire has been adapted and validated for use in Lebanon or the broader Arabic-speaking world. Previous research in other countries has shown that food literacy is important for health, but Lebanon lacked a proper measurement tool. This study fills that gap and allows Lebanese researchers to now compare their findings with studies from other countries using the same questionnaire. The gender differences found here (men scoring higher than women) align with some previous research in other countries, though the reasons for this difference aren’t fully understood.

The study only included Lebanese adults and may not apply to other Arabic-speaking countries without further testing. The questionnaire was administered between December 2022 and March 2023, so the results reflect that specific time period. The study measured food literacy but didn’t follow people over time to see if their food literacy scores changed or if improving food literacy actually led to better health outcomes. Additionally, the study used a sample that was representative of Lebanon’s population, but people without internet access or those living in very remote areas may have been underrepresented.

The Bottom Line

Health professionals and researchers in Lebanon should now use this validated questionnaire to assess food literacy in adults (moderate to high confidence). Public health programs can use the tool to identify groups with low food literacy who might benefit from nutrition education. The finding that men score higher than women suggests that women-focused food literacy programs might be particularly valuable (moderate confidence). However, this tool measures food literacy—actually improving it requires separate interventions like cooking classes or nutrition education programs.

This research matters most to: Lebanese health professionals, nutritionists, and public health workers who want to measure food literacy; researchers studying nutrition and health in Lebanon or Arabic-speaking countries; policymakers developing food and nutrition programs; and organizations working on food security and health promotion in Lebanon. It’s less immediately relevant to individual consumers unless they’re participating in research studies or working with health professionals using this tool.

This study doesn’t address how quickly food literacy can be improved—it only validates a measurement tool. If health programs use this tool to identify people with low food literacy and then provide interventions, improvements would likely take weeks to months depending on the intensity of the program. Long-term benefits to health (like weight loss or disease prevention) would take longer to appear.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Users could take the 12-question food literacy assessment quarterly (every 3 months) to track changes in their food knowledge and skills over time. The app could display their score trend and compare it to the Lebanese average to provide context.
  • After completing the food literacy assessment, the app could recommend specific, personalized actions based on which questions users struggled with—for example, if someone scores low on cooking skills questions, the app could suggest cooking tutorials or recipes; if they score low on food label reading, it could provide education on nutrition labels.
  • The app could use the questionnaire as a baseline assessment, then track progress through a combination of: (1) periodic re-assessment using the full questionnaire every 3 months; (2) daily or weekly tracking of specific food literacy behaviors (like reading nutrition labels, planning meals, or trying new recipes); and (3) connection to other health metrics like dietary quality or food spending to show real-world impact of improved food literacy.

This study validates a measurement tool for food literacy in Lebanese adults—it does not provide medical advice or treatment recommendations. The questionnaire measures knowledge and skills related to food, but improving food literacy should be done under guidance from qualified nutritionists or healthcare providers, especially for people with medical conditions, food allergies, or dietary restrictions. If you have concerns about your nutrition or health, consult with a healthcare professional. This research is intended for health professionals and researchers; individual consumers should not self-diagnose based on food literacy scores without professional guidance.