Young children might be told not to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to healthy eating, consumers are likely to judge food and drinks by their labels. This is the reasoning behind new research which showed that improved food labels can be of great assistance to shoppers.
A new study from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that improved labeling on products helps customers make healthier choices. The research was part of the FDA’s action plan for its Obesity Working Group. The goal is to ensure consumers are able to better understand the nutritional labels and make good decisions regarding their eating habits.
“Survey research conducted by the FDA has shown that consumers have come to rely on the food label to determine the nutritional content of the food they eat,” Amy Lando, who co-led the study, told Business News Daily. “In fact, the percentage of consumers who report that they often read a food label the first time they purchase a food rose from 44 percent in 2002 to 54 percent in 2008.”
Gina Mohr, a marketing researcher from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, who didn’t contribute to the study, explained to Reuters that food manufacturers currently have lots of freedom when it comes to deciding on a serving size. By increasing the number of servings per container, the number of calories per serving is lowered, which makes something appear healthier.
The FDA study also found that individuals responded better when they were given the new labels created for the research – ones that displayed nutrients for the whole package instead of per serving.
Food and drink companies that are trying to design custom labels need to ensure that the products are properly labeled in a way that is easy for consumers to understand. Investing in a Primera LX900 color label printer can assist in this process.
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