Understand Nutrition Labeling

3 Tips To Understand Nutrition Labeling

In a World Of Mixed Messages

Experienced nutrition experts can help companies manage the labeling and promotion of their nutrition-related brands while simultaneously adding to their bottom-line.

Newport Beach, California, November 5, 2009  - If you have been in a supermarket lately, you have seen dazed shoppers confused by the various array of nutrition shelf labeling programs at many grocery stores as well as manufacturer-related claims and seals.  It is literally like a tower of Babel to consumers who trying to be health conscious.

To simplify supermarket shopping for time-pressed, health-conscious shoppers, we believe the time may be right for standardized labeling programs, colors and manufacturer created seals.  We believe that the goal is to encourage more grocery shoppers to choose health-promoting products uniquely suited for their health care needs, whether it is lower calorie, lower fat, lower sodium, or increasing their consumption of a particular nutrient, such as protein or calcium.

Back in the 1990’s shelf labeling programs rapidly grew into favor.  Nutrition labeling that added the FDA nutrition facts panel appeared to begin around 1995 when the American Heart Association food certification program began that allowed a Heart Check Symbol to appear on foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol.  Not to be outdone, ten years later in 2005 Kraft launched Sensible Solutions.  It wasn’t until 2006 when a supermarket joined the quest to help consumers shop for healthier products. Hannaford Brothers Supermarket Chain used its “Guiding Stars” Program to rank foods with 0 to 3 stars, with 3-stars being the highest rating. Similar programs re now being used at supermarktes, such as Giant Foods and Stop & Shop.

Today, the supermarket most manufacturers, such as Mars, Kellogg’s, Sara Lee, General Mills, Con-Agra, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Unilever , have programs o r seals that are intended to help confused shoppers make healthier choices. Unfortunately, the latest American Dietetic Association’s Nutrition and You: Trends 2008 Survey showed that 35 percent of consumers say that food labels have credible information sources. In fact, shoppers are more likely to trust nutrition symbols approved by third parties such as health organizations, like the American Heart Association. 

Many people seem to have doubts about nutrition messages on foods. According to the, 67 percent of consumers think diet and nutrition is very important, yet only  Fewer than 10 percent listed food manufacturers as credible sources.

3 Simple Supermarket Tips for Healthy Shopping

We have three streamlined techniques for shopping for healthier foods since one of the foundations of healthy eating is what you stock at home.

  1. Shop around the perimeter of the grocery store and pick up fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish. When possible select organic produce.(The inside ailses are usualy filled with more processed foods).
  2. Limit packaged or processed foods that contain more than five ingredients, artificial ingredients, or are more “fun food” than ent-filled foods.
  3. Choose “real” foods, such as 100% whole-grain breads, cereals, and pasta with as little processing and as few additives as possible.

If you want to grow and expand your company’s nutrition-related brands, improve your companies credibility, and strengthen its reputation, while also reducing exposure to the inadvertent release of inaccurate information, consider working with qualified nutrition communications experts.

Our research shows that consumers have little brand loyalty, rely on reputation and word-of-mouth, and authority figures, such as doctors, dietitians, and nurses.  Today, more nutrition and health-related companies are relying on qualified nutrition experts to help manage their nutrition-related brand. Think of having known nutrition thought leaders as insurance against the potential that inaccurate information that may have negative effects on a consumer’s health and subsequently, and equally disastrous, negative repercussion on your company and brand.

If you’re ready to stimulate your nutrition-related business, don’t wait for the economy to improve. Then it will be too late. Contact the nutrition communications experts today at (561)  337-1550.