srjcmsSRJCMSSRJCMS2788-885110.47310/srjcms.2025.v05i01.020Check Before You Bite: Awareness of Food Safety, Adulteration, and Nutrition Label Reading Among Consumers in Himachal PradeshBackground: Food safety and nutrition literacy are critical for preventing foodborne illnesses and promoting healthy dietary choices, yet in India, adulteration, inconsistent regulations, and low awareness pose significant challenges, particularly in rural regions like Himachal Pradesh. This study aimed to evaluate consumer awareness of food safety, adulteration, and nutrition label reading, focusing on rural communities, to identify knowledge gaps and barriers. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted from January to February 2025, targeting adults aged 18–60 years in Himachal Pradesh. A bilingual (Hindi/English) questionnaire, hosted on Google Forms, assessed socio-demographic factors, knowledge of food safety and adulteration, nutrition label reading, and barriers. Using convenience sampling, 510 participants completed the survey. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics v27.0, with knowledge scores categorized as Very Good (≥80%), Good (60–79%), Fair (40–59%), and Poor (<40%). Results: Participants, primarily aged 18–35 years (72.9%) and female (55.1%), showed moderate awareness: 80.0% recognized expiry date checks prevent illness, 76.9% identified milk adulteration as common, and 85.1% noted knowledge as a barrier to label reading. Gaps existed in label-checking frequency (60.0%), asymptomatic adulteration (63.9%), and label accuracy (62.0%). Knowledge levels were Very Good (27.8%), Good (45.9%), Fair (20.0%), and Poor (6.3%). Limited market access (31.8%) highlighted rural challenges. Conclusion: While awareness of food safety and adulteration is improving, knowledge gaps and barriers like limited market access persist in Himachal Pradesh. Targeted education, regulatory enforcement, and rural outreach are crucial to enhancing consumer safety and dietary choices.