Knowledge and Consumption Patterns of Functional Foods Among Adults in Calabar, Cross River State

Functional foods, defined as foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, are increasingly being recognised as tools for disease prevention and health promotion. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and consumption patterns of functional foods among adults aged 18 to 60 years in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, South South Nigeria. The growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigerian urban centres has renewed interest in dietary approaches to disease prevention, including the use of functional foods such as fermented products, fortified staples, and phytonutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted with 250 adults recruited through cluster sampling from four residential zones in Calabar. A structured, pretested questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional knowledge of functional food components and their benefits, attitudes toward health-promoting foods, and frequency of consumption using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Findings are expected to show moderate awareness of functional foods, with consumption driven more by tradition and taste preference than by nutritional awareness. Educational status and income were hypothesised as positive predictors of functional food knowledge. The study recommends targeted nutrition education to promote evidence-based consumption of functional foods in South South Nigeria. Keywords: functional foods, consumption patterns, nutritional knowledge, Calabar, adults.