Nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults used Nutrition Facts panel on food labels in buying decisions (2024)

Nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults used Nutrition Facts panel on food labels in buying decisions (1)

Nearly 4 out of 5 adults aged 20 and older reported they regularly used the Nutrition Facts panel when deciding to buy a food product during the most recent wave of the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey (FCBS), from 2017 to March 2020. That is 79 percent, which is much higher than the 62 percent of adults who reported regular use of the Nutrition Facts panel in 2005–06. Regular use includes using the panel “sometimes,” “most of the time,” or “always” in food purchasing decisions. The Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods lists the amount of calories, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, and some other nutritional information—all of which helps consumers compare products and make healthier food choices. Standardized nutrition information became accessible to U.S. consumers on almost all packaged foods sold in grocery stores, supermarkets, superstores, and other retail stores following the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. Since 2007, USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) has sponsored the FCBS by providing partial funding for data collection and survey administration. FCBS is a module of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which collects information on U.S. consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about nutrition and food choices. This chart appears on ERS’ Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey topic page, updated in June 2023.


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Nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults used Nutrition Facts panel on food labels in buying decisions (2024)

FAQs

Nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults used Nutrition Facts panel on food labels in buying decisions? ›

Most research on nutrition label usage in the US has been conducted with adult populations. Research shows that nearly 80% of US adults use nutrition labels to inform buying decisions, and the usage of labels has increased each year since 2005–2006 [3].

What percentage of people look at nutrition labels? ›

Nearly 4 out of 5 adults aged 20 and older reported they regularly used the Nutrition Facts panel when deciding to buy a food product during the most recent wave of the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey (FCBS), from 2017 to March 2020.

What is the 80 120 rule on nutrition labels? ›

The 80/120 rule stated that retail foods cannot contain more than 120% of the declared values of nutrients to limit (calories, saturated fat, sodium, etc.) and cannot contain less than 80% of the declared values for beneficial nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fiber, etc.).

Why do you think the US government requires a Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods? ›

The Nutrition Facts label is designed to provide information that can help consumers make informed choices about the food they purchase and consume. It is up to consumers to decide what is appropriate for them and their families' needs and preferences.

What are the percentages on Nutrition Facts? ›

The % Daily Value (%DV) is the percentage of the Daily Value for each nutrient in a serving of the food. The Daily Values are reference amounts (expressed in grams, milligrams, or micrograms) of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day.

What is the percentage labeling food? ›

Sometimes ingredient lists show a percentage in brackets next to an ingredient, eg. 'apples (26%)', which tells us the proportion of the main (or characterising) ingredients in the food.

What are the percentages of nutrition plate? ›

Guidelines. MyPlate is divided into four sections of approximately 30 percent grains, 40 percent vegetables, 10 percent fruits and 20 percent protein, accompanied by a smaller circle representing dairy, such as a glass of milk or a yogurt cup.

Is the Nutrition Facts panel required on all food? ›

Food Labeling & Nutrition (FDA) Nutritional labels are required on most food products. Small businesses can claim an exemption from Nutritional Labeling requirements. However, it is common to have a nutritional label prepared and available for customers upon request even if it doesn't appear on the label.

What does the Nutrition Facts panel tell you about the food in the package? ›

At the top of the Nutrition Facts label, you will find the total number of servings in the container and the food or beverage's serving size. The serving size on the label is based on the amount of food that people may typically eat at one time and is not a recommendation of how much to eat.

Why is it important to check the nutrition labels before buying the packaged food product? ›

They help us make informed decisions towards choosing good nutrition and health. Knowing how to read food labels also assures that we get more value for our money and protects us from incorrect claims on the product packs. The list provides an overview of the product's "recipe" or constituents.

How much does the average American know about nutrition? ›

85 percent of Americans claim they have the knowledge to eat the way they think they should. However, the same percentage of Americans either underestimate (50 percent) or don't know (35 percent) how many calories they need to burn to lose one pound of weight.

What is the 5 20 rule on food labels? ›

The 5/20 rule of nutrition can help guide grocery shoppers when looking at nutrition labels. It indicates that a 20% or more daily value of any nutrient is a high amount, while 5% or less is low. If you're looking for low sodium, for example, make sure the daily value is 5% or lower.

What percentage of people eat healthy? ›

Around half of Americans are healthy eaters, at least according to their own testimonies. According to Statista Consumer Insights, 50 percent of Americans claim to actively try to eat healthy.

Do people care about nutrition labels? ›

Almost every packaged food product has a Nutrition Facts label listed on the back, giving consumers a glimpse of what they're actually eating. It can help Americans make healthy, informed food choices, but a recent study from the School of Public Health reveals many people check Nutrition Facts infrequently, if at all.

How many people know about nutrition? ›

85 percent of Americans claim they have the knowledge to eat the way they think they should. However, the same percentage of Americans either underestimate (50 percent) or don't know (35 percent) how many calories they need to burn to lose one pound of weight.

Do consumers value nutritional labels? ›

Nutritional label can affect the consumers' purchasing behavior significantly because some evidences reveal that the provision of nutrition information may allow consumers to switch consumption away from 'unhealthy' products in those food categories toward 'healthy' products more easily (Zarkin & Anderson, 1992).

What is the 5 20 rule on nutrition labels? ›

Use %DV to determine if a serving of the food is high or low in an individual nutrient. As a general guide: 5% DV or less of a nutrient per serving is considered low. 20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high.

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