Daily Diet: A Fix for America’s Nutrition Labels

While a third of the population actually take the time to read nutrition labels, they may not be getting all the facts. The current question is how to we get more people to pay attention, and to make labels easier to read for all?

A study out of the University of Michigan found that only 33 percent of shoppers actually look at the nutrition fact labels on groceries prior to purchase and that only 9 percent of those check the calorie count.

Using an eye-tracking device, researchers found that although a quarter to a third said they specifically look at total fat, trans fat, sugar and the serving size, only about 1 percent scanned all four measurements. And a typical consumer only reads 5 lines of the fact label.

"The results of this study suggest that consumers have a finite attention span for nutrition facts labels: although most consumers did view labels, very few consumers viewed every component on any label," wrote study researchers Dan J. Graham and Robert W. Jeffrey.

More importantly, label position had a lot to do with attention span. When labels are positioned at the top of the product, they garner more attention; the same is true of labels that are in the center of a package, rather than the right or left side.

"Consumers are more likely to view centrally located labels and nutrients nearer the label's top," the authors wrote.

To combat the problem and encourage more use and a better understanding, the Institute of Medicine released a report earlier this month recommending an overhaul of the labeling system and detailing qualities that would make it more consumer-friendly.

Among their recommendations are simplifying the label, having nutritional information translated for consumers, using a scaled ranking system of which foods are healthy and supported with names and easily identifiable symbols. The final recommendation was that a three-point system be implemented which rates foods based on the three “bad” nutrients: fats, sodium and sugar.

The labeling would be aligned with the current Energy Star label used on appliances, where a point system is used in an easily identifiable symbol. But in order for this type of nutritional labeling to be implemented, both the FDA and the USDA would have to agree, which is both a difficult and long process.

Meanwhile, many manufacturers have begun using the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association Facts Up Front label, which is a series of 4 white tabs containing calories, fat, sodium, and sugar. Manufacturers also have the option of adding two tabs that include information on two key nutrients (such as Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin A, etc.). These appear on the front of a products and are in addition to the standard nutritional labeling.

However, the Facts Up Front label is not used on every product and oftentimes, when space on a label is limited, only the calorie count tab is included.

Do you really read and comprehend the current nutritional labeling? Does they need an overhaul?