09.01.10
People who read food labels are more likely than those who don’t to eat healthy diets, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Rates of diet-related chronic disease combined with the lack of current data on patterns of food label use by the U.S. population warrant re-examination of the use and potential influence of this public health tool, study authors said. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of food label use and the association between food label use and nutrient intake in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults who participated in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In this sample, more than 61% of participants reported using the Nutrition Facts panel, 52% looked at the list of ingredients, 47% looked at serving size and 44% reviewed health claims at least sometimes when deciding to purchase a food product. However, despite food label use being associated with improved dietary factors, researcher said label use alone is not expected to be sufficient in modifying behavior ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.