Nutrition labeling in food packs was considered one of the most significant policy changes world over to make the process of making and marketing food more transparent. The right of the consumer to know exactly what is inside a sealed food pack is considered sacred and the front of the pack labeling is intended to serve this objective. Whether this mandatory step has improved the nutritional quality of foods in general is a subject matter of debate. Here comes a report that says the nutritional quality of branded foods turned out by the organized food industry has actually declined since 1990 which must be a cause for alarm.
"According to a recent Duke study, the nutritional quality of branded foods has decreased over the past 20 years since nutrition facts were required on food products. Researchers at Duke's Fuqua School of Business and the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business determined that although taste has improved, the overall nutritional quality of supermarket branded foods has been on the decline. In 1990, the government passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which required manufacturers to include a "Nutrition Facts" label listing nutrients, ingredients and recommended daily values on food products. The study, which will be published in Marketing Science, examines a selection of food products before and after the NLEA to assess consumer trends and nutritional elements. Lead author of the study Christine Moorman said the NLEA may have unintended negative consequences. Consumers can develop a false sense of security knowing that the federal government regulates the nutritional standards. "Consumers say, 'I'm not going to worry or be as vigilant about it since the regulations are there,'" said Moorman, T. Austin Finch Sr. professor of business administration at Fuqua. "Consumers should be vigilant regardless of regulation. We hope that Duke students, and all consumers, pay attention to nutritional quality." The study also indicates that consumers consider taste to be more important than nutrition—a trend that the market has noticed. Branded foods have improved in taste over the past 20 years. The higher value consumers place on taste compared to nutrition prompted the researchers to suggest policy changes targeted at consumers and firms. "Public policy really needs to consider how to improve the value of nutrition when consumers care more about something else," Moorman said".
"According to a recent Duke study, the nutritional quality of branded foods has decreased over the past 20 years since nutrition facts were required on food products. Researchers at Duke's Fuqua School of Business and the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business determined that although taste has improved, the overall nutritional quality of supermarket branded foods has been on the decline. In 1990, the government passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which required manufacturers to include a "Nutrition Facts" label listing nutrients, ingredients and recommended daily values on food products. The study, which will be published in Marketing Science, examines a selection of food products before and after the NLEA to assess consumer trends and nutritional elements. Lead author of the study Christine Moorman said the NLEA may have unintended negative consequences. Consumers can develop a false sense of security knowing that the federal government regulates the nutritional standards. "Consumers say, 'I'm not going to worry or be as vigilant about it since the regulations are there,'" said Moorman, T. Austin Finch Sr. professor of business administration at Fuqua. "Consumers should be vigilant regardless of regulation. We hope that Duke students, and all consumers, pay attention to nutritional quality." The study also indicates that consumers consider taste to be more important than nutrition—a trend that the market has noticed. Branded foods have improved in taste over the past 20 years. The higher value consumers place on taste compared to nutrition prompted the researchers to suggest policy changes targeted at consumers and firms. "Public policy really needs to consider how to improve the value of nutrition when consumers care more about something else," Moorman said".
Can the industry be blamed for this dangerous trend that is seen in many countries as the food industry, growing at a decent pace, has captured the imagination of consumers, young and the old, by offering excellent products with tantalizing tastes and flavors. After all industry does not work for charity and the economic law necessitates that it works profitably within the frame work of safety norms that are in force. As long as the consumer does not insist on more nutritional products, overriding the sensory quality, the way industry is working to day will go on, no matter what is said and written about these issues. There is a limit how much the governments can do in improving nutritional quality of industry manufactured foods and such changes will have to be consumer driven.
V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com
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