scholarly journals Revealing the truth about nutrition labelling: The age of the confused consumer

SURG Journal ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Kassandra Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Nutritional Label ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Inadequate Nutrition

Inadequate nutrition is considered to be a leading cause of mortality in the world. Access to quality information about the nutritional quality of food products is essential for making informed decisions in terms of food selection. To this end, nutrition labelling can be used as a tool for helping guide consumers food choices. This review article will examine which consumers use nutrition labels and what types of information they get from them; how nutrition labels influence health choices, dietary habits, and consumer behaviours; and finally, current practices in nutrition labelling and whether this aligns with consumer preferences. Findings from this article are useful for developing methods of nutritional label education and understanding how nutrition labels can be improved to become more useful to consumers. Keywords: health; nutrition labelling; food products; packaging; public education; consumer perception

Consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling: a systematic review

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Cowburn ◽  
Lynn Stockley
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Food Purchase ◽  
Product Comparison ◽  
Point Of Purchase ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Unpublished Research ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractObjective:To explore published and unpublished research into consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling which is culturally applicable in Europe.Design:A systematic review undertaken between July 2002 and February 2003.Results:One hundred and three papers were identified that reported on consumer understanding or use of nutrition labelling, most originating from North America or northern Europe. Only a few studies (9%) were judged to be of high or medium–high quality. We found that reported use of nutrition labels is high but more objective measures suggest that actual use of nutrition labelling during food purchase may be much lower. Whether or not consumers can understand and use nutrition labelling depends on the purpose of the task. Available evidence suggests that consumers who do look at nutrition labels can understand some of the terms used but are confused by other types of information. Most appear able to retrieve simple information and make simple calculations and comparisons between products using numerical information, but their ability to interpret the nutrition label accurately reduces as the complexity of the task increases. The addition of interpretational aids like verbal descriptors and recommended reference values helps in product comparison and in putting products into a total diet context.Conclusions:Improvements in nutrition labelling could make a small but important contribution towards making the existing point-of-purchase environment more conducive to the selection of healthy choices. In particular, interpretational aids can help consumers assess the nutrient contribution of specific foods to the overall diet.

Identification of buyers ' activities for food selection in the context of quality

2020 ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
I.P. Mitrofanova ◽  
◽  
V.P. Kamynina ◽  
M.M. Khaibullina ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Management System ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Safety Management System ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Food Manufacturer

The article examines the types of activities of food buyers and considers the results of a survey of Internet users on the problem of the quality of purchased products in terms of its quality and safety. The types of buyers ' activities and the main criteria for choosing food products are revealed. The results obtained allow us to formulate a recommendation for consumers that contributes to changing the attitude of the food manufacturer to the creation of a food safety management system.

Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use among Malaysian adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (11) ◽  
pp. 2777-2787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Kang Cheah ◽  
Foong Ming Moy ◽  
Debbie Ann Loh
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Label Use

Purpose – Nutrition labels bridge communication between food manufacturers and consumers and are instrumental in shaping food choices and dietary habits. Gaining insight into the factors associated with nutrition label use precedes evaluating the effectiveness of these labels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use among multi-ethnic Malaysian adults. Design/methodology/approach – Data from the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (n=39,506) on nutrition label use was analysed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with reading nutrition labels, adjusted for confounders. Findings – The findings show that females, young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, Malays, tertiary educated, singles, employed individuals, physically active adults and non-smokers were significantly associated with increased odds of nutrition label use. Research limitations/implications – Causality could not be established due to the cross-sectional study design. The scope of the data collected limited investigations to the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use. Future research measuring consumers’ attention, motivation and comprehension of nutrition label use and subsequent food selection should be conducted. Practical implications – Health promotion efforts targeted towards promoting the use of nutrition label among males, older adults aged between 31 and 40 years, ethnic minorities, primary educated, widowed/divorced individuals, unemployed, physically inactive and smokers are recommended. Originality/value – This nationwide study provides valuable insights into the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors significantly associated with nutrition label use among Malaysian adults.

Objective understanding of the front-of-pack nutrition label Nutri-Score by European consumers

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Egnell ◽  
Z Talati ◽  
P Galan ◽  
V Andreeva ◽  
S Vandevijvere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Traffic Lights ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Food Packages ◽  
Objective Understanding ◽  
Quality Of Food

Abstract Background The effectiveness of Front-of-Pack nutrition Labels (FoPL) may be influenced by national context. In light of the ongoing efforts to harmonize nutrition labelling across Europe, the study aimed to compare the effectiveness of five FoPLs (Health Star Rating system [HSR], Multiple Traffic Lights [MTL], Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes [RIs], Warning symbol) in 12 European consumers. Methods In 2018-2019, for three food categories, approximately 1,000 participants per country were asked to select which food they would prefer to purchase between three products with distinct nutritional quality, and then to rank the products nutritional quality. Participants completed these tasks first with no FoPL and then, after randomization to one of the five FoPLs, with a FoPL on food packages. Associations between FoPLs and change in (i) nutritional quality of food choices, and (ii) ability to correctly rank the products nutritional quality were assessed with multivariable logistic regression models. Results Compared with the RIs, the Nutri-Score (OR = 3·23[2·75-3·81]; p < 0.0001), followed by the MTL (OR = 1·68[1·42-1·98]; p < 0.0001), was the most effective FoPL in helping participants identify the foods nutritional quality, overall and in each of the 12 countries. Differences between FoPLs regarding food choice modifications were smaller, but the effect of the Nutri-Score was slightly higher in eliciting healthier food choices overall compared with the RIs, followed by the Warning symbol, MTL and HSR. Conclusions These findings from an online experiment provide insights on the Nutri-Score's effectiveness in multiple European countries in the context of FoPL harmonization in Europe. Key messages The comparison of the effectiveness of front-of-pack labels highlighted the relative performance of various types of labels, the Nutri-Score showing a higher performance than other schemes. The higher performance of the Nutri-Score was identified for objective understanding and to a lesser extent food choices.

scholarly journals Alignment of Supermarket Own Brand Foods’ Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling with Measures of Nutritional Quality: An Australian Perspective

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Pulker ◽  
Georgina Trapp ◽  
Jane Scott ◽  
Christina Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
The Government ◽  
Daily Intake Guide

Two voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labels (FOPNL) are present in Australia: the government-led Health Star Ratings (HSR) and food industry-led Daily Intake Guide (DIG). Australia’s two largest supermarkets are key supporters of HSR, pledging uptake on all supermarket own brand foods (SOBF). This study aimed to examine prevalence of FOPNL on SOBF, and alignment with patterns of nutritional quality. Photographic audits of all SOBF present in three large supermarkets were conducted in Perth, Western Australia, in 2017. Foods were classified as nutritious or nutrient-poor based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGTHE), NOVA level of food processing, and HSR score. Most (81.5%) SOBF featured FOPNL, with only 55.1% displaying HSR. HSR was present on 69.2% of Coles, 54.0% of Woolworths, and none of IGA SOBF. Half (51.3%) of SOBF were classified as nutritious using the AGTHE, but using NOVA, 56.9% were ultra-processed foods. Nutrient-poor and ultra-processed SOBF were more likely than nutritious foods to include HSR, yet many of these foods achieved HSR scores of 2.5 stars or above, implying they were a healthy choice. Supermarkets have a powerful position in the Australian food system, and they could do more to support healthy food selection through responsible FOPNL.

scholarly journals Compared to other front-of-pack nutrition labels, the Nutri-Score emerged as the most efficient to inform Swiss consumers on the nutritional quality of food products

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. e0228179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manon Egnell ◽  
Pilar Galan ◽  
Nathalie J. Farpour-Lambert ◽  
Zenobia Talati ◽  
Simone Pettigrew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Quality Of Food

scholarly journals Evaluation of Athletes’ Food Choices during Competition with Use of Digital Images

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona E. Pelly ◽  
Rachael Thurecht
Keyword(s):  
Food Choice ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Self Rating ◽  
Selection Of

The selection of foods made by athletes during competition can impact performance, yet to date, the quality of their food choices has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to describe the food selection of athletes in a buffet-style dining hall setting in terms of diet quality, food variety, and volume of food and compare to their self-rating of their meal, reasons for the choosing the food items, access to previous nutrition advice, and use of nutrition labelling. A total of 81 athletes (42 females, 39 males) from 24 sports across 58 countries at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (Qld, Australia) participated in this study. A digital photograph was taken of the athletes’ meal after selection from the buffet and prior to consumption. Each participant was asked a series of questions in relation to their food selection. The photographs were coded into recommended serves of food groups based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. The nutritional analysis and photograph of a standard serve size were used to quantify the energy and nutrients for the meal. Most athletes chose adequate quantities of macronutrients, which agreed with their reasons for the food choice, but the majority did not include fruit (80.2%) or dairy (65.4%) in their food selection, while 54% of males included discretionary foods (0.25–7.0 serves). The median self-rating for food choice was 8/10. Most reasons for food choices were nutritional attributes, sensory factors, performance, usual eating practices and physiological factors (e.g., satiety, gut comfort). This suggests that athletes may need more education on the quality of food selected from buffet settings.

scholarly journals Consumer Preferences for Private Label Brand vs. National Brand Organic Juice and Eggs: A Latent Class Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7028
Author(s):  
Ellen J. Van Loo ◽  
Fien Minnens ◽  
Wim Verbeke
Keyword(s):  
Orange Juice ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Latent Class Model ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Private Label ◽  
National Brand ◽  
Major Barrier

Many retailers have expanded and diversified their private label food product assortment by offering premium-quality private label food products such as organic products. With price being identified as the major barrier for organic food purchases, private label organic food products could be a suitable and more affordable alternative for many consumers. While numerous studies have examined consumer preferences for organic food, very few organic food studies have incorporated the concept of private labels. This study addresses this research gap by studying consumer preferences and willingness to pay for national brand and private label organic food using a latent class model. Specifically, this study analyzes consumer preferences for organic eggs and orange juice and the effect of national branding versus private label. Findings show heterogeneity in consumer preferences for production method and brand, with three consumer segments being identified based on their preferences for both juice and eggs. For eggs, about half of the consumers prefer private label and organic production, whereas one-quarter clearly prefers organic, and another quarter is indifferent about the brand and the organic production. For orange juice, the majority (75%) prefer the national brand. In addition, one-quarter of the consumers prefers organic juice, and about one-third values both organic and the national brand.

scholarly journals Quality of life, symptoms and dietary habits in oncology outpatients with malnutrition: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Sonneborn-Papakostopoulos ◽  
Clara Dubois ◽  
Viktoria Mathies ◽  
Mara Heß ◽  
Nicole Erickson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Mini Nutritional Assessment ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
European Organization

AbstractCancer-related malnutrition has a high prevalence, reduces survival and increases side effects. The aim of this study was to assess oncology outpatients and risk of malnutrition. Reported symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in patients found to be at risk of malnutrition or malnourished were compared to patients without malnutrition. Using a standardized questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Quality of Life and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), patients in an outpatient cancer clinic undergoing chemotherapy treatment at a German University Hospital were assessed for nutrition, risk of malnutrition and quality of life. Based on the MNA, 39 (45.9%) patients were categorized as malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. Loss of appetite (n = 37.6%, p < 0.001) and altered taste sensation (n = 30,3%, p < 0.001) were the symptoms most frequently associated with reduced food intake. Patients with risk of malnutrition scored lower on the global health status (n = 48.15%, p = 0.001). Side effects of cancer treatments lead to a higher risk of malnutrition and as a consequence lower QoL. These side effects should be addressed more efficiently in cancer care.

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