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The Decline in Consumer Use of Food Nutrition Labels, 1995-2006

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  • Todd, Jessica E.
  • Variyam, Jayachandran N.

Abstract

This report examines changes in consumers’ use of nutrition labels on food packages between 1995-96 and 2005-06. The analysis finds that, although a majority of consumers report using nutrition labels when buying food, use has declined for most label components, including the Nutrition Facts panel and information about calories, fats, cholesterol, and sodium. By contrast, use of fiber information has increased. The decline in label use is particularly marked for the cohort of adults less than 30 years old.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd, Jessica E. & Variyam, Jayachandran N., 2008. "The Decline in Consumer Use of Food Nutrition Labels, 1995-2006," Economic Research Report 56466, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersrr:56466
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.56466
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nayga, Rodolfo M., 1996. "Determinants of Consumers' Use of Nutritional Information on Food Packages," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28(2), pages 303-312, December.
    2. Martinez, Stephen W., 2007. "Food Product Introductions Continue To Set Records," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, pages 1-1, November.
    3. Kristal, A.R. & Levy, L. & Patterson, R.E. & Li, S.S. & White, E., 1998. "Trends in food label use associated with new nutrition labeling regulations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(8), pages 1212-1215.
    4. Kim, Sung-Yong & Nayga, Rodolfo M., Jr. & Capps, Oral, Jr., 2000. "The Effect Of Food Label Use On Nutrient Intakes: An Endogenous Switching Regression Analysis," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 25(01), pages 1-17, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Banterle, Alessandro & Cavaliere, Alessia & Ricci, Elena Claire, 2012. "Food labelled Information: An Empirical Analysis of Consumer Preferences," 2012 International European Forum, February 13-17, 2012, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 144960, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    2. Zhu, Chen & Huang, Rui, 2014. "Heterogeneity in Consumer Responses to Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels: Evidence from a Natural Experiment?," Working Paper series 170016, University of Connecticut, Charles J. Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy.
    3. Mancino, Lisa & Todd, Jessica E. & Lin, Biing-Hwan, 2009. "Food Away From Home: How much does it really influence diet quality?," 2009 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, 2009, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 49251, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Stranieri, Stefanella & Banterle, Alessandro, 2015. "Consumer Interest in Meat Labelled Attributes: Who Cares?," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Kiesel, Kristin & Villas-Boas, Sofia B., 2013. "Can information costs affect consumer choice? Nutritional labels in a supermarket experiment," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 153-163.
    6. Liu, Xiaoou & Lopez, Rigoberto & Zhu, Chen, 2015. "Can Voluntary Nutrition Labeling Lead to a Healthier Food Market?," 2016 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting, January 3-5, 2016, San Francisco, California 212818, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Manoj Hastak & Anusree Mitra & Debra J. Ringold, 2020. "Do consumers view the nutrition facts panel when making healthfulness assessments of food products? Antecedents and consequences," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 395-416, June.
    8. Boysen, Ole & Bradford, Harvey & Boysen-Urban, Kirsten & Balie, Jean, 2018. "Taxing Highly Processed Foods: Impacts On Obesity And Underweight In Sub-Saharan Africa," 58th Annual Conference, Kiel, Germany, September 12-14, 2018 275849, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    9. Sundstrom, W.A. & McIntyre, S. & Baker, G.A. & Avants, B., . "Bearers of Bad New: Heterogeneous Effects of Alternative Front-of-Package Labeling Schemes for Nutritional Information," Journal of Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia, vol. 38(01).
    10. Chen Zhen & Xiaoyong Zheng, 2020. "The Impact of NuVal Shelf Nutrition Labels on Food Purchase," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(4), pages 870-887, December.
    11. Stefanella Stranieri & Lucia Baldi & Alessandro Banterle, 2010. "Do Nutrition Claims Matter to Consumers? An Empirical Analysis Considering European Requirements," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(1), pages 15-33, February.
    12. Zeballos, Eliana & Anekwe, Tobenna D., 2018. "The Association Between Nutrition Information Use and the Healthfulness of Food Acquisitions," Economic Research Report 276241, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    13. Todd, Jessica E., 2014. "Changes in Eating Patterns and Diet Quality Among Working-Age Adults, 2005-2010," Economic Research Report 262214, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    14. Kiesel, Kristin & Villas-Boas, Sofia B., 2009. "Can Information Costs Confuse Consumer Choice?---Nutritional Labels in a Supermarket Experiment," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt6st6d0rr, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.

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