Differences in consumer use of food labels by weight loss strategies and demographic characteristics.

Sara N Bleich,Julia A Wolfson

doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2651-z

Sara N Bleich, Julia A Wolfson

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2651-z

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Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about national patterns in the use of fast food and packaged food labels among adults by weight loss strategies and demographic characteristics.MethodsWe analyzed the Consumer Behavior Module in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010 among adults (N = 9,690). For each of the outcome variables – use of packed food and fast food menu labels – multiple logistic regressions were used to adjust for potential differences in population characteristics by weight loss activities and demographic characteristics.ResultsOverall, 69 percent of adults reported they would use fast food information and 76 percent reported using the nutrition facts panel on packaged foods. Adults trying to lose weight had a greater likelihood of reporting use of nutrition information to choose fast foods (OR = 1.72; 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.29) and using the nutrition facts panel on food labels (OR = 1.92; 95 % CI: 1.60, 2.30). Black and Hispanic adults were more likely to report using ingredients lists on packaged foods compared to Whites (White −63 %, Black/Hispanic −68 %, p < 0.05).ConclusionRegardless of weight loss activities or demographic characteristics, a majority of adults report they would use fast food nutrition information.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2651-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Little is known about national patterns in the use of fast food and packaged food labels among adults by weight loss strategies and demographic characteristics
The Food and Drug Administration has finalized the menu labeling regulations for chain restaurants which are expected to be implemented in December 2016
The characteristics of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010 sample are presented in Table 1, overall and by weight loss effort

Summary

Introduction

Little is known about national patterns in the use of fast food and packaged food labels among adults by weight loss strategies and demographic characteristics. The federal government has mandated nutritional labeling on the majority of packaged foods since 1990 through the Nutritional Labeling and Education Act of 1990 [1]. The Food and Drug Administration has finalized the menu labeling regulations for chain restaurants which are expected to be implemented in December 2016. Both labeling schemes have the goal of helping consumers make healthier or lower calorie dietary choices and potentially lessen the burden of the obesity epidemic which currently affects one-third of American adults [3] and costs $147 billion in U.S health spending annually [4]. Calorie information in fast food restaurants or on packaged foods, has the potential to have a considerable impact on consumer behavior – a important area of research given consumers’ significant underestimation of the amount of calories in the foods they consume [6, 8]

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