Is label literacy a key to healthier food choices?

American Heart Association 

Washington, D.C. – Health-related factors have a significant impact on the foods people buy. With the seemingly overwhelming number of products on shelves, a new survey offers insights into which information on food labels is most influential — and on how additional information might lead to healthier dietary choices.

According to the survey, conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation and the American Heart Association, almost all Americans (95 percent) report that they always or sometimes look for healthy options when food shopping.

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Consumer Reports Survey Show 73% of Consumers Look for ‘Natural’ Labels at Grocery Stores; Many Are Unwittingly Misled

CR submits nearly 250,000 signatures demanding change

Yonkers, NY – A new survey released by Consumer Reports today shows that the majority of consumers—73 percent—seek out foods labeled as ‘natural’ when they make food-purchasing decisions.

However, the term ‘natural’ on processed food labels has no clear meaning and is not regulated by any government agency. This is in contrast to 58 percent of consumers—15 percent less—who seek out the organic label, which is actually meaningful and backed by hundreds of pages of standards.

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ShopSmart Decodes Tricky Food Labels

What those health claims on food and beverage really mean; plus, those consumers can trust

Yonkers, NY – The package says “heart healthy,” “reduces cholesterol,” or “maintains digestive health.” But what do these food labels really mean? The full report on tricky food labels is available in the September 2013 issue of ShopSmart.

“Promises of better health, weight-loss and more can be enticing, but claims can be misleading and you may not be doing yourself any favors buying foods that make these types of promises,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. [Read more]