Standard nutrition labels do not receive the attention it deserves and be more efficient, as the Energy Star label, could be the answer. While a third of people who really take the time to read nutrition labels, you will not have all the facts. The question now is how to get more people to pay attention and to make it easier to read labels for all?
A study by the University of Michigan found that only 33 percent of consumers actually see the nutrition label before buying food and only 9 percent of the controls in the form of calories.
Using eye-tracking device, researchers have found that despite a quarter to a third said they are looking for total fat, the size of trans fats, sugar and serve only about 1 percent the size of the examination room. And the average consumer reading of five lines of the facts on the label.
"The results of this study indicate that consumers have a limited range of attention to the Nutrition Facts label, but most consumers look at labels, some consumers who see the individual components of the label," the researchers wrote to study and J. Graham and Robert W. Jeffrey.
More importantly, the labels must be much to do with attention span. When the label on the product, which receives more attention, the same is true of the label in the middle of the pack, rather than right or left side.
"Consumers are more likely to see the nutrition labels and located near the top of the label," the authors write.
To solve problems and improve the use and understanding, the Institute of Medicine published a report earlier this month recommended improving the system of labels and lists the attributes that will be more favorable to the consumer.
Among its recommendations is to simplify the label, after the translation of nutrition information to consumers, using a rating scale where foods are healthy and compatible with easily identifiable names and symbols. Final recommendation is that the three-point system that rates foods implemented based on three "bad" nutrients: fat, sodium and sugar.
Label in accordance with the Energy Star label is currently used tools, which is easily the points system used in the symbol identified. But for this type of nutrition labels to implement, the FDA and USDA agree, that both a long and difficult process.
Meanwhile, many manufacturers have started using the Association of food labels really make the front, a series of four white chips that contain calories, fat, sodium and sugar. Producers also have the option to add two tabs that include information on the two essential nutrients (like vitamin C, potassium, vitamin A, etc.). Apparently, in front of the product, and in addition to general nutrition labels .
However, Up Front Facts label is applied to each product and, often, when an enclosed space, such as tab labels included in calories.
