Consumers lose interest in sodium labels on food

A new analysis released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported fewer Americans using federally-mandated nutrition information, especially sodium.  The 2005-2006 NHANES study of 9,416 representative consumers found about 7 in 10 use the Nutrition Facts label, about the same as a decade ago.  For sodium, only 66% consulted the label in 1995-1996 and that number declined 10% to 60% in 2005-2006.  Among nutrients, only cholesterol fell more, 11%.  Among all the listed nutrients, fiber was the only one where consumers registered increased concern as reflected in label use.

The label was mandated in 1994; sodium labeling had been in effect a decade before that.

Over the past ten years, 5% more reported "never" using the label.  For salt/sodium, the increase in "never use" increased by 10 points from 12% to 22%.  A decade earlier, 36% "always/often" used the sodium label; that eroded to 34%.

It would take another study to tell us why consumers are shunning nutrition information, but the pattern is consistent.  Eleven percent fewer are using label health claims (37% "never") and even the ingredient list (32% "never").  Perhaps consumers are mary wary of over-promising (this report, for example, claims the labels help consumers link diet choices with health outcomes and "nutrition-related morbidity."  The medical evidence fails to show positive health outcomes for decreased dietary sodium.  With the multiplicity of advisories and the fact that scientists dispute the health consequences of cholesterol and sodium (and other nutrients), consumers are overwhelmed and doubtful about the advice they're being given. 

That's why the new Dietary Guidelines should adopt an "evidence-based medicine" approach in lieu of the expert panel approach of past reviews.