A panel discussion at the International Food Technologist’s (IFT) FIRST meeting during mid-July provided an opportunity to review the impact of nutritional labels.  Robert Feld of the Sustainable Packing Research, Information and Networking Group presented data obtained in the late 1990s that showed that although 95 percent of consumers claimed on surveys that “it was important to have the information” only five percent actually used it. 

Conflicting data on nutritional labels was presented including an International Food Information Council Foundation survey that showed that 59 percent of consumers always read labels on a packaged food.  An Ipsos survey in 2016 showed that 66 percent of respondents read food labels.  In contrast, a recent University of Minnesota School of Public Health study showed infrequent checking of nutrient data on a label.

The differences among consumer responses may be due to time restraints during shopping or familiarity with a brand or product. Young consumers are influenced by the internet compared to previous generations and with “fad” factors such as gluten motivating a review of labels.  There may well be differences in educational status and income that are correlated to health concerns influencing a review of labels.  Publicity generated by the American Heart Association and kindred organizations may have intensified concern over the content of salt, calories and saturated fat, resulting in a more conscientious review of ingredients and nutrient content.