Abstract
Nutrition labelling on foods can provide consumers with invaluable information on which to base important decisions affecting their health in a variety of ways. Indeed, it has long been promoted as an important information source by health professionals and, with the rise in the amount of convenience foods eaten, which invariably display a nutrition label, it could prove to be an increasingly significant area for health education. However, how many health professionals and patients truly understand food labels? Many readers will be surprised to learn there is currently no legal requirement in the UK or Europe to include nutrition information on food labels unless the product is making some form of nutritional claim. Likewise, for those manufacturers who decide to volunteer such information, there are no rules on exactly what they should provide and in what format (i.e. layout, position on the label, text size etc). It could be said therefore that nutrition labelling is somewhat of a minefield for the average consumer, let alone a person with diabetes. Studies have demonstrated that freedom to eat in diabetes has a major impact on quality of life for people with diabetes, over and above other aspects of their diabetes such as ‘worries about the future’.1 The article by Dr TA Deakin provides an informative background to the area of food labelling and diabetes and focuses on relatively simple measures that may help consumers to read and interpret nutrition labelling. The author supports calls for European uniformity in nutrition labelling, but in the meantime this small study using a structured questionnaire demonstrates there is value in offering consumers educational resources and a magnifying glass, particularly for older age groups. Cost implications for health services are not considered in the study; however, it would seem wise to target resources to those with the greatest need and potential benefit, and perhaps the food industry itself could provide financial support.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
