2000-2001 food label and package survey: an update on prevalence of nutrition labeling and claims on processed, packaged foods.

The food label is an important tool for improving the public's understanding of the health benefits of following a nutritious diet. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has continued to study food labels with its Food Label and Package Survey (FLAPS). Data from the 2000-2001 FLAPS characterize various aspects of the labeling of processed, packaged foods, including nutrition labeling and various types of label claims. The FDA used a multistage, representative sample of food products from the Information Resources Inc (IRI) 1999 supermarket database as the basis for the FLAPS sample. The final FLAPS database consists of 1281 foods. An estimated 98.3% of FDA-regulated processed, packaged foods sold annually have nutrition labels, with an additional 1.7% of products exempt from nutrition labeling requirements. Health claims (4.4%), structure/function claims (6.2%), and nutrient content claims (49.7%) were identified on food labels. In addition to the resource this survey provides to CFSAN in assessing health and nutrition information on the food label, registered dietitians and other health professionals can use FLAPS data to assist consumers in choosing a more nutritious diet to improve their health and well-being.