Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols: Promoting Healthier Choices

Institute of Medicine

doi:10.17226/13221

Consensus Study Report

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Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols

Promoting Healthier Choices

(2012)

During the past decade, tremendous growth has occurred in the use of nutrition symbols and rating systems designed to summarize key nutritional aspects and characteristics of food products. These symbols and the systems that underlie them have become known as front-of-package (FOP) nutrition rating systems and symbols, even though the symbols themselves can be found anywhere on the front of a food package or on a retail shelf tag. Though not regulated and inconsistent in format, content, and criteria, FOP systems and symbols have the potential to provide useful guidance to consumers as well as maximize effectiveness. As a result, Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake a study with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to examine and provide recommendations regarding FOP nutrition rating systems and symbols.

The study was completed in two phases. Phase I focused primarily on the nutrition criteria underlying FOP systems. Phase II builds on the results of Phase I while focusing on aspects related to consumer understanding and behavior related to the development of a standardized FOP system.

Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols focuses on Phase II of the study. The report addresses the potential benefits of a single, standardized front-label food guidance system regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, assesses which icons are most effective with consumer audiences, and considers the systems/icons that best promote health and how to maximize their use.

Contributor(s): Institute of Medicine; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee on Examination of Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols (Phase II); Ellen A. Wartella, Alice H. Lichtenstein, Ann Yaktine, and Romy Nathan, Editors

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Suggested Citation

Institute of Medicine. 2012. Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols: Promoting Healthier Choices. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13221.

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Publication Info

180 pages | 8.5 x 11 |

ISBNs:

Paperback: 978-0-309-21823-8
Ebook: 978-0-309-21826-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/13221

Chapters		skim
Front Matter	i-xvi
Summary	1-8
1 Introduction	9-14
2 The Food Package Environment	15-20
3 The Regulatory Environment	21-32
4 Consumers' Use of Nutrition Information and Product Choices	33-42
5 Consumer Use and Understanding of Front-of-Package Labeling Systems	43-58
6 Effects of Food Package Information on Consumer Preferences, Choices, and Processing	59-70
7 A Model Front-of-Package Symbol System Including Criteria for Evaluating Nutrients	71-96
8 Promotion, Evaluation, and Monitoring for Front-of-Package Symbol Systems	97-104
9 Recommendations	105-108
Appendix A: Acronyms and Glossary	109-114
Appendix B: History of Nutrition Labeling	115-134
Appendix C: FDA Regulatory Requirements for Nutrient Content Claims	135-140
Appendix D: Approach to Literature Review	141-146
Appendix E: Evaluation of Nutrient Content of Selected Example Foods	147-156
Appendix F: Workshop Agenda	157-158
Appendix G: Committee Member and Consultant Biographical Sketches	159-164

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