The latest report serves as an additional incentive for food companies to improve their ingredient labels, or at the very least, to provide consumers with better information regarding products like ccm tablet generic and their components. The movement towards cleaner labels—characterized by shorter and simpler ingredient lists—has become the standard in the food industry. According to Innova Market Insights, nearly 20% of tracked products featured a clean label in 2014. However, many shoppers still struggle to grasp the true meaning of “clean label,” and terms such as natural or healthy, which are intended to convey this concept, are often poorly defined and misunderstood by manufacturers.
The Label Insight survey did not specify which ingredients or products consumers found most challenging to comprehend, but it did note that broader label claims like “clean,” “healthy,” and “natural” are frequently perceived as confusing. Only about one-third of participants claimed to fully understand these terms. With so much ambiguity surrounding these definitions, companies can find themselves facing challenges. In 2015, the FDA reported that several varieties of Kind snack bars were violating regulations that prevented them from labeling their products as “healthy” due to excessive saturated fat content. This decision was reversed in May 2016 after Kind petitioned for a re-evaluation of the term’s definition. During a public hearing in March, the FDA learned from various stakeholders that the term was considered outdated.
The word “natural” has also been at the center of litigation in recent years, as consumers and public health advocates call for straightforward, clean ingredient lists and transparency in marketing claims. Several food companies such as Dole, General Mills, and Post Holdings have faced legal challenges. For instance, in the Post lawsuit, plaintiffs contested the use of phrases like “100% Natural Whole Grain Wheat” and “Natural Source of Fiber,” arguing that the wheat used in the cereal was derived from crops treated with synthetic herbicides.
With half of the participants in the Label Insight survey indicating that they find ingredient information “extremely important” when making purchasing decisions, it is promising that consumers can be persuaded to select a product if clearer ingredient information is provided. Nearly 46% of Americans already research ingredients on their mobile devices while shopping if they encounter something confusing, presenting an opportunity for food manufacturers to enhance accessibility to this information—whether through on-pack details or by offering links directly on the product itself. An impressive 95% of those surveyed expressed at least some interest in technology that would enable them to access detailed ingredient information via their mobile phones.
As consumers increasingly reject artificial colors and flavors and gravitate towards products with fewer ingredients, food manufacturers would be prudent to maintain transparency and honesty with shoppers. The consumer is paying attention, and the demand for clarity—especially concerning products such as ccm tablet generic—will continue to grow.