Internet Survey of Nutrition Claim Knowledge

Consumer interest in healthy foods has spurred approval of several health claims for foods and dietary supplements. Although undergraduate and graduate food science curricula address food laws and regulations, nutrition claims may not be fully addressed. We posted a survey on the Internet for 2 mo for food industry professionals and others interested in taking the survey to assess their understanding of laws and regulations pertaining to nutrition labeling for foods and dietary supplements. The purpose of this survey was to measure knowledge in this area so that our university and others could reevaluate their curricula to provide student and lifelong learners with appropriate information about this important topic. Respondents were asked to indicate whether displayed claims were health claims, structure‐function claims, or not approved for use on food labels. Respondents ( N = 136) indicated that they gained information about nutrition claims from many sources. Although respondents correctly identified approved health claims and claims that are not approved for foods, some confusion about nutrition claims may exist because not all respondents correctly identified claims in the appropriate category. Issues in educating food scientists include keeping food labeling information current and defining complex topics such as structure‐function claims. The findings of this pilot study have been used to incorporate lectures about health claims in courses in addition to the food law class at the Univ. of Maine.