A new study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, published in the August issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition, is adding to the growing body of evidence that nutrition-related claims on packaged foods are misleading. The study builds on the findings of Prevention Institute's Claiming Health: Front-of-Package Labeling of Children's Food, released by Strategic Alliance last January.
Researchers showed parents actual images of children's cereal boxes of below-average nutritional quality. The packaging featured various nutrition-related claims like "fiber," "whole grain," "calcium," and "supports your child's immunity." Participants were then asked to interpret the meaning of these claims and indicate how they would affect their decision to buy the product.
The results indicated that such claims are often misinterpreted by parents. The majority of participants inferred that cereals with claims were more nutritious overall and might provide specific health-related benefits. These beliefs translated into a greater willingness to purchase the products.
As the Prevention Institute study Claiming Health found, the presence of front-of-package nutrition labels did not indicate a truly healthier product. In this study, authors examined foods marketed to children with front-of-package labeling and found that 84% of products studied failed to meet basic nutritional standards.
Authors of both studies conclude that many front-of-package nutritional claims have the potential to mislead, and calls for increased FDA regulation to reduce confusion and provide consumers with clear, accurate information.
Rudd Center Study Reaffirms - Nutrition Claims on Packaged Foods are Misleading
