Objective  To examine the cognition on and behaviors of dairy product consumption and their influencing factors among residents of Shanxi province to provide references for developing programs of health education on dairy products consumption.

  Methods  Using stratified multistage random sampling, we carried out a self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey among 3 288 residents recruited in 75 counties/districts of Shanxi province from December 2018 to March 2019. Chi-square test, Ridit analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used in data analyses.

  Results  Of all the participants at ages of 15 to 84 years (mean = 30.97 ± 13.37), 44.19% (1 453) were male and 55.81% (1 835) were female. Only 14.93% (491) of the participants reported a great concern about dairy product safety. The reported concern about dairy product safety differed significantly by gender (χ² = 17.404), age (χ² = 59.962) and residential place (χ² = 31.304) (all P < 0.05); the male participants (\bar R = 0.482), the participants aged ≤ 20 years (\bar R = 0.473), and those living in rural regions (\bar R = 0.469) reported lower concern about dairy product safety. Logistic regression analysis revealed that participants with a monthly household income of ≤ 500 yuan (RMB) per-capital were less likely to consume dairy products compared to those with the income of > 500 yuan (P < 0.05); the participants paying a great attention on dairy safety incidents when purchasing were less likely to consume dairy products compared to those paying a little attention on the incidents (P < 0.05); whereas, the participants with the Engel’s coefficient of < 60% were more likely to consume dairy products in comparison to those with the Engel’s coefficient of ≥ 60% (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Dairy product consumption is insufficient and the concern on dairy product safety is at a low level among adult resident in Shanxi province. Governmental departments should take measures to promote the cognition on and consumption of dairy products in the public.