Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

4 Consumers' Use of Nutrition Information and Product Choices
Pages 33-42

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 33...
... in 1990, nutrition labeling has become an important policy tool to provide consumers with nutrition information that will assist them in making nutrition ally appropriate food choices and in maintaining sound dietary practices. 1 The cornerstone of labeling regulations under the NLEA's mandate is the Nutrition Facts panel (NFP)
From page 34...
... The NFP provides a lot of detailed nutrition information that is likely to be crucial for individuals with dietary restrictions due to health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, etc. In fact, label readers fre quently reported using nutrition labels for the purposes of avoiding certain nutrients and assessing the nutrition profile (Cowburn and Stockley, 2005)
From page 35...
... . Time constraints highlight the need for a simplified FOP label that summarizes key aspects of the nutritional profile, is relevant to consumer concerns about diet-related chronic disease risk, and facilitates product comparisons and healthier food choices.
From page 36...
... The first FOP nutrition rating systems to appear (during the late 1980s and early 1990s) were largely developed by nonprofit organizations.
From page 37...
... . Manufacturers and retailers developed FOP nutrition rating systems to provide consumers with easy-to-use summaries of the nutrition profile of the product and thereby help them make healthier choices.
From page 38...
... . FDA's Perspective FDA shared with the committee information resulting from activities they conducted to improve understanding of consumer response to FOP nutrition rating systems, including a request for comment, information, and data on FOP labeling.3 In the committee's judgment, FOP labeling or corresponding shelf labeling concerning the nutri tional attributes of a food product can be an effective way to promote healthier choices and to help consumers to make food choices that are more consistent with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
From page 39...
... But motivation is crucial, for without it, nutrition knowledge has minimal impact on consumers' food choice and purchasing decisions. Also as discussed above, nutrition information on food labels is more likely to be read by consumers who are motivated by health concerns, so the label may indeed assist this group in making healthier food choices.
From page 40...
... However, there is scant evidence to support that the proliferation of FOP nutrition rating systems has encouraged healthier food choices and pur chase decisions. In fact, one UK study of the use of FOP labeling found that the coexistence of a number of label formats in the market caused consumer confusion about the levels of key nutrients (BMRB, 2009)
From page 41...
... 2003. Dietary fat intake and search for fat information on food labels: New evidence.
From page 42...
... 2008. Do nutrition labels improve dietary outcomes?


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.