UM Leads Malta’s First National Study on Adolescent Food Choices and Food Label

Malta is set to embark on its first-ever national study examining how adolescents understand food labels, make everyday food choices, and are influenced by their home and school food environments.

The study, titled NEXT-FOOD-MT, is led by Dr Sarah Cuschieri, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, a medical doctor, epidemiologist, and founder of the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Research Network (CDERN)—a UM network dedicated to strengthening evidence-based research on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in small states and islands.

NEXT-FOOD-MT is being conducted in collaboration with Prof. Stefano Moncada, Director of the Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) at the University of Malta, bringing together interdisciplinary expertise in public health, sustainability, and the social determinants of health. This partnership ensures a holistic approach to understanding the environmental, educational, and behavioural factors shaping adolescents’ food choices.

Designed as a nationwide effort, NEXT-FOOD-MT will investigate front-of-pack labelling literacy, dietary behaviours, and the food environments surrounding Malta-based adolescents aged 13 to 15 years. The study is funded by Xjenza Malta, in partnership with the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, and is carried out with the endorsement of the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation.

With obesity rates among Maltese adolescents among the highest in Europe, this study aims to generate actionable, nationally relevant insights that will inform future prevention strategies and support healthier generations.

The study has now entered its fieldwork phase, with results expected to contribute meaningfully to Malta’s public health and education landscape.