Report Title

Awareness of the Recent Change in the Nutrition Label

Collective Title

Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Research Reports 2019

Abstract

Background: The Nutrition Facts panel as it is recognized today was developed by Dr. David Kessler in 1994 during his tenure as the commissioner of the FDA. A new label was announced on May 20, 2016 to increase awareness about food content, clarify the amount of food in a package, and to present information that has been recently and scientifically updated. Several studies have researched the food label and the association between knowledge and dietary intake. However, these studies examined the 1994 version of the label and results fell short of desired outcomes. Since the announcement of the new label, very little promotion has taken place to make consumers aware of the changes that have taken place.

Objective: To identify whether consumers have been made aware of the 2016 nutrition label update.

Design: An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was provided to participants via email or in person consisting of 18 questions divided into two sections: nutrition label and demographics.

Participants: Data were collected on 232 participants 18-years and above.

Statistics: Data were tested using chi-squared test of homogeneity and Fisher's Exact Test.

Results: A significant difference in the awareness of the recent change in the nutrition label by income level (P = 0.002).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest most participants are not aware of the updated nutrition label change. However, when presented with the images of the old and new nutrition label, most participants were able to identify the updated version. Early and adequate nutrition education could improve shopping and healthful eating habits. The intent of the new label to bring awareness of realistic serving sizes and their calorie load appears to have not been met.

LLU Discipline

Nutrition and Dietetics

Department

Nutrition and Dietetics

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

Gurinder Bains

Second Advisor

Lida Gharibvand

Third Advisor

Georgia Hodgkin

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2019

Date (Title Page)

2019

Language

English

Keywords

Food--Labeling--United States;

Type

Research Report

Page Count

20 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Collection Website

scholarsrepository.llu.edu/rr/

Repository

Loma Linda University. University Libraries.

Share

COinS