OBJECTIVE Effective nutrition labels are part of a supportive environment that encourages healthier food choices. The present study examined the use, understanding and preferences regarding nutrition labels among ethnically diverse shoppers in New Zealand. DESIGN AND SETTING A survey was carried out at twenty-five supermarkets in Auckland, New Zealand, between February and April 2007. Recruit...

Food packaging frequently reports the terms natural, 100% natural or similar. Often these indications induce consumers to purchase those products that are considered healthier and fresher. The overall goal of this study was to assess what teen consumers perceive to be genuine and natural foods. A questionnaire was distributed to the students of some high schools (lyceum, technical and professio...

OBJECTIVE The present study investigated how trans-fat is reported on the packaging of foods sold in a Brazilian supermarket. DESIGN The present descriptive, cross-sectional study analysed the ingredient list, nutrition facts label and claims of no trans-fat on the packaging. SETTING A large supermarket in Florianópolis, Brazil. SUBJECTS All food products available at the supermarket. R...

OBJECTIVE The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Institute of Medicine are currently investigating front-of-package (FOP) food labelling systems to provide science-based guidance to the food industry. The present paper reviews the literature on FOP labelling and supermarket shelf-labelling systems published or under review by February 2011 to inform current investigations and identify areas ...

The present study is a biochemical validation of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with optical reading, i.e. containing food portion photographs to help to assess quantities. Forty-four healthy subjects, non-smokers and not taking vitamin supplements, were recruited for the study. After completion of the questionnaire, subjects were asked to keep a 7 d weighed dietary record (7DR). Three 24...

Three surveys were conducted of 429 supermarket shoppers in Canberra, Australia, in order to examine factors that may influence their concerns about food and health. In each survey, a 28 item food and health concerns inventory was administered along with selected personality trait, personal values or shopping style scales. Principal components analysis of the ratings of the food and health conc...

Nutrition information on packaged foods supplies information that aids consumers in meeting the recommendations put forth in the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans such as reducing intake of solid fats and added sugars. It is important to understand how food label use is related to dietary intake. However, prior work is based only on self-reported use of food labels, making it unclear if subje...

The US Congress has granted the Food and Drug Administration the authority to permit manufacturers to use claims in food labels that fit into the following broad categories: health claims, structure/function claims, nutrient content claims, and dietary guidance messages. This article outlines the scope and evolution of these claims and how they are used in the marketing of probiotics. Probiotic...

A new generation of food labels uses symbols and ratings on the front of packages and on supermarket shelves to indicate a product's nutritional value. Proponents of these new labels assert that they help consumers make healthier dietary choices. Critics contend that the new labels are confusing and misleading. This article argues that, with some minor reforms, the FDA's existing regulatory fra...

Flawed allergen analysis hinders detection and measurement of allergens, which is important for allergen risk management in food labelling, in-factory cleaning and threshold levels. ELISA, DNA and MS can be used to detect food allergens but there are quantification problems with all three. ELISA is currently the most commonly applied technique however, although it can detect the presence of mos...