Understanding Food Labels Can Promote Healthy Diets

Although food intake and the eating behavior of middle school children have been widely studied, few studies have examined how decisions are made based on the youth’s understanding of available information.

Currently, the Nutrition Facts label is the most readily available tool to identify the healthfulness of packaged foods. Keli Hawthorne, MS, RD, LD, and her colleagues at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) conducted a study to determine how well young adolescents understood the Nutrition Facts label and if its use could be improved by a short, small group education program.

Keli explained, “Generally when young adolescents are given a choice between a high-fat and a low-fat cookie with no nutrition information, they will consume the higher-fat cookie. However, when nutrition information is provided, the lower-fat cookie is often chosen.”

Initial information about the basic use of the Nutrition Facts label was limited. The group was split as to whether the Nutrition Facts label was very (32%), sometimes (36%), or never an influence (32%) on their knowledge of whether or not a food is healthful. However, an overwhelming majority agreed that reading the Nutrition Facts label made it easier for them to choose more healthful foods.

Actual Nutrition Facts labels from foods commonly consumed by youth were used in an education session and to assess knowledge. Overall the youth improved significantly after the education session suggesting that middle school children are capable of understanding the Nutrition Facts label and that labels can be an effective educational tool. This study was published in the June, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. http://www.adajournal.org/article/PIIS0002822306003038/abstract.