TABLE 4.

Illustrative examples of literacy proficiency level functions and capacities based on the Multi‐dimensional Digital Food and Nutrition Literacy (MDFNL) model

Literacy level	Illustrative examples
Translational literacy	The ability to transfer purchasing practices from one food retailer to another to get better prices on food products, lower delivery costs, etc.; the ability to adapt food purchasing patterns to buy food from a retailer’s online platform rather than shopping in‐store.
Critical literacy	The ability to recognize when online food retail platforms use algorithms to market unhealthy items (e.g., snack foods, sugary beverages); the ability to identify when retailers use geolocation and personal data to market specific items.
Communicative literacy	The ability to communicate effectively with retailers or retail bots to coordinate curbside pick‐up or delivery of food purchases; the ability to navigate online help centers and automated systems.
Interactive literacy	The ability to read a nutrition label and use that information to inform a purchasing decision; the ability to compare similar food products’ nutrition labels and determine which option better aligns with the DGA and MyPlate.
Functional literacy	The ability to use numeracy skills to calculate the price per ounce of a food product; the ability to read a nutrition label to understand basic information, such as the calories per serving size.