In a recent study, researchers found although Nutrition Facts label on packaged food can help Americans make healthy food choices, many people check them infrequently, if at all.
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Minnesota.
Almost every packaged food product has a Nutrition Facts label listed on the back, giving consumers a glimpse of what they’re actually eating.
While previous studies have found an association between using Nutrition Facts and eating more produce, little was known about how many people actually pay attention to them and how they impact food choices.
In the study, the team wanted to know who used nutrition labels, what parts of the label they read, and how the label use was related to food intake.
The researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 young adults, aged 25-36.
They found there is a low level of usage of food nutrition labels. Only about a third of our study sample used labels frequently when buying a food product for the first time.
However, young adults who did read Nutrition Facts had better dietary patterns, including eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
People with the following demographics were more likely to read Nutrition Facts:
Women; People with high education and income; People who regularly prepare food; People who are physically active; People classified as overweight; and People who were trying to lose, gain or maintain weight.
In addition, the team found adults who did read Nutrition Facts labels more frequently were most interested in sugars, calories, and serving size.
They say this is a good sign because it suggests the new FDA guidelines seem to fit the preferences of young adults.
Future work needs to see if nutrition label usage correlates to eating choices.
That could guide public health programming and educational efforts to encourage consumers to use Nutrition Facts.
The lead author of the study is post-doctoral fellow Mary Christoph.
The study is published in the Journal of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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