Roughly Two-Thirds of Food Labels on the Internet Includes Inaccuracies or Inconsistencies
Going Online for Groceries: A Hidden Truth
In the comfort of your home, the digital aisles of online grocery shopping have boomed during the pandemic years. But as you add those items to your virtual cart, you might be missing out on crucial nutritional information compared to what you'd find in a brick-and-mortar store.
Researchers at NYU and Tufts University took a closer look at this issue. They found that only a third of online grocery products included the essential nutritional information needed for in-store labeling [1]. This includes listing food allergens and the proportion of juice in fruit drinks.
Sean Cash, a professor at Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, commented, "The online landscape, with fewer regulations, highlights information that isn't necessarily vital for consumers" [1]. The study examined the standardized information panels of 10 packaged foods, such as bread, cereals, and beverages, sold by 9 major online retailers.
The Findings
The study revealed that:
- Essential information was legible on about a third of the products.
- Food allergens were stated on just 11.4% of products.
- Nutrition facts and ingredient lists were listed approximately half the time.
- Health-related claims, such as "low sodium," appeared on 63.5% of online product images.
Although the products are under the same regulation as in-store items, Jennifer Pomeranz, an assistant professor at NYU's School of Global Public Health, mentioned that online retailers aren't held accountable for presenting items in accordance with labeling regulations [1]. This lack of transparency raises concerns for consumers who need to track allergens, sodium, or sugar content.
Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, the author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet, expressed her concern: "If potential allergens or incorrect ingredients are listed, it could potentially trigger an allergic reaction" [1]. For those on medically-prescribed diets like people with kidney disease or diabetes, it's essential to know specific nutrient amounts (such as protein and carbohydrates); however, the absence of such information could make it difficult for them to select appropriate food products.
Cash emphasized that evidence shows food labels positively impact population health [1], and the lack thereof undermines consumer well-being.
Unraveling the Web of Regulations
during the pandemic, nearly half of consumers increased their online grocery shopping, with 30% shopping less in-store [5]. Unfortunately, regulations haven't caught up to this trend. According to Pomeranz, "There's no clear regulation right now requiring any entity to provide this information" [1].
Though three federal agencies oversee food labeling, online sales, advertising, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers – the FDA, FTC, and USDA – the researchers suggest that these existing authorities can be leveraged to address labeling discrepancies in online food retail [1]. Cash advises consumers to reach out to legislators to push for regulations change. Moreover, "There’s great potential for online platforms to actually be a place where consumers can be better-informed, but we're missing that opportunity by regulating our 21st-century marketplaces with rules designed for the last century" [1].
While you wait for regulations to adapt, Palinski-Wade encourages consumers to visit the manufacturer's website for accurate product information, and to inquire about missing details with the online retailer.
- The online grocery landscape, with fewer regulations, may lack crucial nutritional information compared to in-store shopping, such as food allergens and the proportion of juice in fruit drinks.
- The study found that food allergens were stated on only 11.4% of online grocery products, and nutrition facts and ingredient lists were listed only about half the time.
- Professor Sean Cash from Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy stated that the online landscape highlights information that isn't necessarily vital for consumers, and the lack of transparency raises concerns for those who need to track allergens, sodium, or sugar content.
- Jennifer Pomeranz, an assistant professor at NYU's School of Global Public Health, mentioned that online retailers aren't held accountable for presenting items in accordance with labeling regulations, which could potentially trigger allergic reactions for those on medically-prescribed diets.
