Front-of-Pack Labeling Provides Opportunity to Highlight Healthier Nutrient Profiles
In recent years, the number of food and beverage packages displaying nutritional information on the front has increased. From fact-based, numbers-oriented icons to “better-for-you” rating systems, the industry has not yet produced a standard method. Recently, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute announced a joint effort to release a voluntary front-of-pack labeling initiative, Nutrition Keys, to provide consistency across packaged food products.
The primary goal of the front-of-pack labeling system is to help consumers identify more healthful food choices and to encourage the use of nutrition criteria in product development and reformulation.
According to the 2011 International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food & Health Survey , consumers are using the information. In fact, 24% of Americans currently use nutrition content on the front of a package to influence purchasing decisions, and another 68% review the Nutrition Facts Panel. Out of those who look at the Nutrition Facts Panel, saturated fat, trans fat, total fat and fat from calories all ranked in the top 10 pieces of information used.
Nutrition Keys is a nutrient-based approach that summarizes nutrition information from the Nutrition Facts Panel on the front of the package. Voluntary participants will place an icon on the front of their products that displays calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar per serving, as well as the percent daily value of each. As an option, labels also can include up to two “nutrients to encourage” (as outlined by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans) if the product has more than 10% of the daily value per serving and meets the FDA requirements for a “good source” nutrient content claim.
Source: www.gmaonline.org
Nutrition Keys can be adopted now and is expected to be more visible on grocery shelves by mid-2012. The Institute of Medicine also plans to release separate front-of-pack labeling recommendations by fall 2011. In any case, displaying nutrients on the front of packages provides an opportunity for food manufacturers to differentiate their products from the competition, particularly based on what information consumers use to make purchasing decisions.
According to the 2011 IFIC Food & Health Survey, among the 71% of Americans trying to limit fat consumption, the vast majority (56%) are focused on saturated fats. Another 49% of Americans report trying to limit trans fats in the diet. With Omega-9 Oils, food manufacturers can significantly reduce these “bad” fats, including one (saturated fat) that is required on the front of the package under the new Nutrition Keys program.
