Thank you for participating in the Small Bites reader survey on the impact of food labels.When asked if food labels influence food purchases, seventy percent of readers answered "yes", fifteen percent responded "sometimes," and fourteen percent said "no."
This is especially interesting in light of the National Restaurant Association's claims that there is no consumer demand, or need, for calorie labeling on fast food menus.
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6 comments:
Your data may not be statistically relevant, since just the fact that we are reading your blog suggests we are, depending on view point, either :"concerned about nutrition," or just plain "obsessed."
Having said that, I started reading every single food label after I accidentally found the incredibly high amounts of sodium in canned soups (this was a couple of years ago- don't buy them anymore after that). So I began to read food labels looking for information on sodium levels... and continued and continued. There are some things I used to eat "as a treat" that I no longer consume in light of frightening information I've found through food labels.
You certainly have a point that some visitors may be very health conscious and, therefore, biased to reading food labels.
The "good news" is that I have received many e-mails from people who stumble upon this blog without much of a nutrition background.
So, it seems that food labels resonate with the general public.
Of course, there is then the larger issue of how people interpret them.
For instance, are people more concerned with "carbohydrates" than "saturated fat?', etc.
are you going to have a nutritional label tutorial ? like the cutoff % of whatever amt. or another great idea for a post would be what to eat in a day. or what meals/snacks are great to eat continuously ?
What to eat in a day is not an easy question to answer.
We know how much to get of certain nutrients, but there is an endless combination of foods that can be consumed to achieve these values.
I can definitely at some point post a few tips on what values to aim for for certain nutrients, if that is what you are referring to (?).
Andy-
You have found yourself the stuff for another survey with this:
"For instance, are people more concerned with "carbohydrates" than "saturated fat?', etc."
The results of that survey would, I think, serve as a wonderful backdrop for a newspaper article.
My $0.02 to advance this article idea... Ranked in order of importance (meaning, what I notice first):
1) Saturated Fat Content
2) Sodium
3) Cholesterol
4) Added sugar (Now I notice it since I began to read your blog).
Lastly, also from reading your blog:
5) Serving Size
6) Calories
Anto,
I currently don't have the time for a newspaper article, but your message (playing off of my message) is the source of inspiration for the current poll!
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