Trans Fat Information on Food Labels: Consumer Use and Interpretation

2010 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Ellis ◽  
N. Theresa Glanville
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Location ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Trans Fat ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Nutrition Facts Panel ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: Consumers’ use and interpretation of trans fat information on food labels were explored. Methods: Consumers completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire in one of three grocery stores selected purposively to represent geographical location. Data analysis involved examining the relationship of age, gender, grocery shopping habits, household size, and source of nutrition information with awareness, use, and interpretation of trans fat information. Results: Ninety-eight percent (n=239) of participants were aware of trans fat, and most knew of the relationship between trans fat intake and cardiovascular disease. Although the majority of shoppers were aware of the “0 trans fat” nutrition claim on food packages (95%), they were more likely to use the Nutrition Facts panel (60%) to reduce trans fat intake. Men and consumers under age 40 were least likely to be aware of food label information. While most consumers (75%) correctly interpreted the “0 trans fat” nutrition claim and thought foods with this claim could be healthy choices (64%), only 51% purchased these foods to reduce trans fat intake. Conclusions: Nutrition professionals should target messages to reduce trans fat intake at men and consumers under age 40. While general knowledge was good, further education is required to help consumers interpret trans fat information.

Consumer perceptions of trans fats in 2009 show awareness of negative effects but limited concern regarding use in snack foods

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 526-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roseann Nasser ◽  
Stephanie Cook ◽  
Megan Bashutski ◽  
Karen Hill ◽  
Darci Norton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Snack Food ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Trans Fat ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Trans Fats ◽  
Dietary Changes

The purpose of this study was to determine consumers’ perceptions of industrially produced trans fats. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Regina at 3 different grocery store chains located in 3 different regions. A 21-item survey was administered in English by 3 research assistants at the grocery stores over a 5-day period. Of 498 potential respondents who were approached, 211 completed the survey, for a 42% response rate. The majority of respondents were female and over 61 years of age. When respondents were asked if they looked for information on food packages while grocery shopping, none of the respondents indicated that they looked for trans fat on the food label. Ninety-six percent of respondents identified that trans fat is found in processed foods, whereas 42% of respondents incorrectly identified trans fat as being found in nonhydrogenated margarines. More female respondents self-reported that they had made dietary changes to decrease trans fat intake as compared with male respondents (p < 0.05). Those participants who made dietary changes to decrease trans fat intake had higher mean knowledge scores than did those who did not make changes (p < 0.043). Sixty-three percent of respondents indicated that they would not make dietary changes to their snack food selections even if their selections contained trans fat. Consumers know a little about trans fats and consider them to be a concern. However, consumers are reluctant to make dietary changes to limit these fats in their snack food selections.

scholarly journals Reporting of trans-fat on labels of Brazilian food products

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2146-2153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna Maria Silveira ◽  
David Alejandro Gonzalez-Chica ◽  
Rossana Pacheco da Costa Proença
Keyword(s):  
Food Products ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Trans Fat ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Brazilian Legislation ◽  
Vegetable Fat

AbstractObjectiveThe present study investigated how trans-fat is reported on the packaging of foods sold in a Brazilian supermarket.DesignThe present descriptive, cross-sectional study analysed the ingredient list, nutrition facts label and claims of no trans-fat on the packaging.SettingA large supermarket in Florianópolis, Brazil.SubjectsAll food products available at the supermarket.ResultsOf the 2327 study products, more than half had components containing trans-fat in the ingredient list, especially hydrogenated vegetable fat and its alternative names. A small percentage of food products reported some trans-fat content on the nutrition facts label and roughly a quarter of the food products claimed to contain no trans-fat on the front of the packaging. There was very low agreement among the trans-fat content reported in the nutrition facts label, claims of no trans-fat made on the packaging and the ingredient list.ConclusionsThere was low agreement among the different ways of reporting trans-fat, suggesting that it is not possible to rely on the nutrition facts label or no trans-fat claims printed on the packaging of Brazilian food products. Hence, the Brazilian legislation on food labels needs to change to improve the reliability of food labels and to help control the trans-fat intake of the population.

scholarly journals The consumer perspective of labeling on foodstuffs—review

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Abreu
Keyword(s):  
Food Industry ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Consumer Perspective ◽  
Nutrition Facts Panel

Abstract Background The information present on food labels is essential to provide consumers with proper guidance on the quality of food products, allowing the choice of a nutritionally balanced diet. Easy-to-read systems can help hungry consumers make healthier choices at the time of purchase. The goal of this research is verifying the efficacy of different food labels on foodstuffs by the consumer choices. Methods Scientific articles were analysed from 2016 to 2020, based on Pubmed and Google Scholar. Keywords such as food label, foodstuffs, food industry and consumer were used. Results From scientific research, six articles were analysed. Thus, it is estimated the analysis of 2069 participants were recruited through a large web panel provider. Age, gender, and socioeconomic status quotas were applied to recruit a diverse sample of consumers. The participants choose the healthfulness (less healthy, moderately healthy, healthier) of the foodstuffs. The Multiple Traffic Light led to significant differences in choices between healthier and less healthy products, but not moderately healthy products. No significant differences in choices were observed by product healthfulness when the Daily Intake Guide was present. The Nutrition Facts Panel was viewed for only 7% of all packages. Conclusions On some food labels it is possible to find wrong information due to the use of ambiguous and confusing words that are easily disseminated. Effective strategies are needed to promote both food choices made by consumers and food industry formulations. Nutrition is an essential key to maintaining health, so it should be done as an incentive to improve health.

Highlights on the Labels of Packaged Foods Sold in Jordanian Market from A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 770-782
Author(s):  
Narmeen J. Al-Awwad ◽  
Hiba F. Al-Sayyed ◽  
Hamzah Safi ◽  
Salma M. Al-Bosta ◽  
Summer Al-Zawawi
Keyword(s):  
Drug Administration ◽  
Food And Drug Administration ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Trans Fat ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Added Sugars ◽  
Packaged Foods

Jordan has adapted a strategy to prevent chronic diseases. Accordingly, Ministry of Health is looking for controlling food labeling particularly food fat, trans-fat, and caloric content. This study aimed to screen the food label of products that are sold in Jordanian market in terms of serving size, energy, macronutrient, fiber, total and added sugars, saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, and micronutrient contents. A cross-sectional study was performed to screen the food label for the food products based on the standards of The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations of 2016 and Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA). Generally, food labels were not clear. The screened products were compliant with JFDA standards and not in compliance with some FDA standards. In addition, many products were found to be sources of added sugars, Na, and saturated fats. Stakeholders and legislators are called to focus on developing new laws, regulations, and polices for developing food label. Food manufacturers are needed to work hardly on developing informative, clear, easy-to-understand, and attractive food labels. The legislators of food label policies are called to look for ways to indicate the presence of high amounts of dietary risk factors such as sugars, added sugars, Na, saturated, and trans fats in packaged foods.

scholarly journals Are Online Grocery Stores Being Designed to Support Consumer Nutrition Information Needs? Results from a Marketplace Survey (P04-151-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Olzenak ◽  
Lisa Harnack ◽  
Joeseph Redden ◽  
Simone French ◽  
Nancy Sherwood
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Research Award ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Online Stores ◽  
Nutrition Facts Panel

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the availability of nutrition-related information and features on leading online grocery store websites. Methods This study was a cross-sectional design. A systematic protocol was followed to assess availability of nutrition-related features on twelve online grocery shopping websites. The availability of nutrition facts panel and ingredient statement information for 26 food products across a variety of food categories was assessed along with the availability of additional nutrition-related features such as the ability to filter food search results by nutrition attributes. Means, frequencies, and percentages were calculated. Results Common nutrition-related search filters available on the store websites included organic (10 of 12 stores), gluten free (nine of 12 stores), low in fat (six of 12 stores), and sugar-free/no sugar added (five of 12 stores). Nutrition facts panel information was available on the websites for 42%-100% of the packaged food and 33%-58% of the fresh produce items. Foods with available ingredient information ranged from 25%-100% for packaged foods to 50%-58% for the fresh produce items. Conclusions Nutrition facts panel and ingredient statement information may be less available online for packaged foods than in physical stores where all packaged products must have labels. However, this information was sometimes available online for produce items even though labeling is not required on ‘unpackaged’ foods like fresh produce. Many online stores included nutrition-related features not available or feasible to provide in physical stores. Online grocery shopping marketplaces have the potential to support shoppers in making healthful food purchase decisions. Funding Sources This research was supported by a University of Minnesota Division of Epidemiology and Community Health J.B. Hawley Research Award.

scholarly journals In an attempt at saving the environment, are you instead harming yourself?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravneet Athwal ◽  
BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽  
Helen Heacock
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Microsoft Office ◽  
Survey Responses

Background With the increasing shift to reusable shopping bags and the potential ban on plastic bags in Canada in the near future, the question arises as to whether consumers are aware of the proper practices to maintain a safe environment within the bags themselves. The reason for this study was to determine if people are aware of the need to keep specific bags for certain food groups and if they are aware of the need to wash and/or sanitize their reusable shopping bags due to the risk of cross-contamination. Usage of the same bag for various foods (e.g. lettuce and raw meat) without proper sanitation practices can lead to cross-contamination between the foods, and in turn, create a risk of food borne illness. Methods A survey created on Microsoft Office 365 Word was administered through Survey Monkey and distributed on Reddit, various social media, and by email. The survey collection ran for one week in the month of January 2020. The survey consisted of 14 questions and took approximately two to three minutes to complete. Results 225 respondents filled out the online survey. The majority of survey responses were from British Columbia (47%), were female (54%), attended post-secondary institutions (65%) and were between the ages of 20 to 30 (46%). Nearly half of reusable shopping bag users use the same bag to store their fruits/vegetables and their meats, 61% of users have never cleaned their shopping bags, 7% clean them weekly, and only 1% clean their bag after every use. Those who mix produce and meats in the same bag are less likely to wash their RSBs (p = 0.0006). Males are less likely to wash their shopping bags than females (P = 0.009). 97% of survey respondents were not provided with any cleaning instructions upon their purchase of a reusable shopping bag and 93% have never seen educational material presented on RSB cleaning and/or the risk of cross-contamination. 84% believe there is not appropriate awareness and knowledge among the general public on the cleaning requirements of reusable shopping bags and the potential risk of cross-contamination while 10% believe there is sufficient awareness. Not surprisingly, those who were not aware that shopping bags need to be cleaned between uses were less likely to wash them (p = 7.804 x10-19). Conclusion In conclusion: 1. people who are not aware that their RSBs need to be cleaned between uses are also less likely to clean them, 2. males are less likely to clean their reusable shopping bags, 3. bags that contain both fruits/vegetables and meats in the same bags are also less likely to be cleaned, and 4. bags that are used more frequently also cleaned more frequently. Further education on reusable shopping bags is needed along with the transition from plastic bags to reusable shopping bags. At the time of publication, the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic was rapidly spreading throughout the world. In order to prevent fomite spread of disease, British Columbia forbade the use of RSBs in grocery stores, resulting in a proliferation of plastic bags. Time will tell when, and if, RSBs will be permitted for grocery shopping.  

scholarly journals Food Neophobia among Adults: Differences in Dietary Patterns, Food Choice Motives, and Food Labels Reading in Poles

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1590
Author(s):  
Marzena Jezewska-Zychowicz ◽  
Marta Plichta ◽  
Małgorzata Ewa Drywień ◽  
Jadwiga Hamulka
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Neophobia ◽  
Food Choice Motives ◽  
The Relationship

Food neophobia (FN) is associated with reduced quality of diet in adults; thus, the understanding of the relationship between FN and food consumption in more depth appears to be a key issue. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between food neophobia, dietary patterns, food choice motives, and food label reading in the group of adults. Data were collected using the computer-assisted personal interviewing technique (CAPI). A cross-sectional quantitative survey was carried out in November–December 2017 in a sample of 1017 Polish adults. The questionnaire used in the study included the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS), the Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN), and questions regarding food choice motives, reading food labels, and sociodemographic characteristics. The food neophobics were older, had a lower level of education, and had higher BMI compared to others. Compared to others, among the food neophobics, there were more people who often consumed vegetables, fruit, meat, and meat products and who rarely consumed functional and convenience food, sweets, and sweetened beverages. When choosing food, more food neophobics chose healthy and tasteless food products, while more food neophilics chose unhealthy and tasty products. More food neophobics declared not reading price and shelf-life information on food labels compared to the other two groups. Although food neophobia may make adaptation to dietary recommendations difficult, health-promoting features of the diet were observed within the food neophobics. Actions focusing on food choice motives may help even more to limit the effects of food neophobia in adults. Further research is recommended to confirm the observed relationships under different sociocultural conditions.

The (Mis) Education of Immigrant Children in Today’s America

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Gabriela E. Gui
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Immigrant Children ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Survey Interviews ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Education Classrooms

In today’s America, not every child starts on a level playing field, and very few children move ahead based solely on hard work or talent. Generational poverty and a lack of cultural capital hold many students back, robbing them of the opportunity to move up professionally and socially. Children of immigrants are especially at-risk because, in addition to facing poverty, race, geographical location or economic disadvantages, they are also confronted with failure due to their limited or non-existent English proficiency. This study focuses on the degree to which teachers in a mid-sized urban school district take into consideration the individual needs of immigrant children in the process of their education. The study also examines the preparation teachers have had to equip them with knowledge of best practices in teaching immigrant children, and the relationship between teachers’ practices, beliefs, and their demographic and personal characteristics (age, gender, years of experience, level of education, etc.). Quantitative data was collected via a survey. Interviews with teachers and one central office administrator provided data for the qualitative section of the study. The findings revealed that teachers, in general, appeared to lack knowledge of specific policies for mainstreaming immigrant students into general education classrooms; their use of effective teaching practices for working with immigrant children were limited; and most of the teachers had not participated actively in professional development that focused on teaching immigrant children.

scholarly journals Being Able to Stay or Learning to Stay: a Study of Rural Boys’ Educational Orientations and Transitions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Maria Stenseth ◽  
Unn-Doris K. Bæck
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Upper Secondary School ◽  
Upper Secondary Education ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Educational Orientations

AbstractThis study explores the influence of geographical location on young pupils’ educational orientations and their transition from lower to upper secondary school; it pays particular attention to the voices of male youths from a rural area. More specifically, it investigates the interplay between gender and geographical contexts and the significance of these factors in understanding the processes associated with educational orientations. Margaret Archer’s framework is used to analyse how pupils’ agency is constrained and/or enabled by objective structures. The data material consists of qualitative interviews with 18 pupils transitioning from lower to upper secondary school in Norway. Each of the pupils was interviewed twice: first when they were in their last year of lower secondary education, and then during their first year of upper secondary education. The findings show that pupils consider geographical locations when making decisions about further education and work. In addition, they believe that education beyond compulsory schooling benefits their life in the rural areas. However, unlike their urban counterparts, pupils from rural areas appear to have a more constraining transition to upper secondary education. Through the analyses in this article, it becomes clear that both geographical location and gender are key factors for understanding processes connected to education.

FDA says it will require trans-fat amounts on food labels

The Lancet ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 362 (9379) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Ault
Keyword(s):  
Food Labels ◽  
Trans Fat
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