The FDA is proposing new labels on the front of food packages to help shoppers quickly see if foods are high in unhealthy ingredients like salt, sugar, and saturated fat. Researchers tested this label design with over 5,600 shoppers to see if it actually works. The results were promising: when people saw the new “Nutrition Info” label, they were much better at picking the healthier option between two products compared to other label types. However, the labels worked better for people who already knew more about nutrition. This study suggests the FDA’s plan could help most shoppers make better food choices.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do new food labels on the front of packages help shoppers understand which foods are healthier by showing if they’re high or low in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats?
  • Who participated: 5,636 American adults who do the grocery shopping for their households. The study was conducted online in October and November 2024 with a diverse group of people from different income levels, education backgrounds, and races.
  • Key finding: The new “Nutrition Info” label helped shoppers pick the healthier product 18 percentage points more often than traditional labels. This means if shoppers were right 56% of the time with old labels, they’d be right about 74% of the time with the new label.
  • What it means for you: If the FDA adopts these new labels, you’ll have an easier time spotting healthier foods when you shop. The labels work especially well if you already know something about nutrition, but they help most people make better choices. This doesn’t mean you need to memorize nutrition facts—the label does the thinking for you.

The Research Details

Researchers conducted an online experiment where they randomly assigned shoppers to see one of six different label designs. Each person looked at six pairs of food products and had to decide which one was healthier based on the label they were shown. The six label types included: traditional positive labels (like “good source of fiber”), the FDA’s proposed “Nutrition Info” label, warning labels for high amounts of unhealthy nutrients, combinations of these labels, and a spectrum label that rates foods from least to most healthy.

This type of study is called a randomized controlled trial, which is considered very reliable because it randomly assigns people to different groups. This helps ensure that any differences in results are due to the label design, not because different types of people were in different groups.

The researchers measured success by counting how many times each person correctly identified the healthier product. They also looked at whether the labels worked differently for people with different income levels, education levels, races, and nutrition knowledge.

Testing labels with real shoppers in realistic situations is important because what works in theory might not work in real life. By having people actually compare products and make choices, researchers can see if the labels truly help people understand nutrition. This approach is much better than just asking people what they think about labels without actually using them.

This study is strong because it used a large, diverse group of 5,636 people from across the United States, making the results more likely to apply to most American shoppers. The random assignment to different label types helps ensure fair comparisons. The study was conducted recently (October-November 2024) and published in a respected medical journal. However, because the study was done online, it may not perfectly match how people shop in actual grocery stores where they have many distractions and time pressures.

What the Results Show

The new “Nutrition Info” label that the FDA proposed performed best overall. When shoppers saw this label, they correctly identified the healthier product 18 percentage points more often than when they saw traditional positive labels (like “good source of fiber”). This was the biggest improvement of any label tested.

Combining the positive label with the new Nutrition Info label also worked very well, improving understanding by 18 percentage points. Warning labels that simply say “high in” unhealthy nutrients helped too, but not as much. A spectrum label that rates products from least to most healthy improved understanding by about 11 percentage points.

Across all the label types tested, shoppers correctly identified the healthier product between 56% and 90% of the time, depending on which label they saw. This shows that even the best labels don’t make the choice obvious every time, but they do significantly improve shoppers’ ability to make healthy choices.

An important finding was that the labels didn’t work equally well for everyone. People with higher nutrition literacy (those who already knew more about food and health) benefited more from the labels, especially the new Nutrition Info label. For people with lower nutrition literacy, the labels still helped, but not as much. Interestingly, the labels worked equally well regardless of people’s income, education level, or race and ethnicity, suggesting these labels could help reduce health inequalities.

Previous research has shown that front-of-package labels help shoppers make better choices, but this is one of the first studies to directly test the FDA’s specific proposal. The results align with earlier findings that simpler, more direct labels (like warning labels) tend to work better than positive endorsement labels. This study adds important evidence that the FDA’s approach is on the right track.

The study was conducted online, which may not perfectly reflect how people shop in real grocery stores where they’re rushed and distracted. The study only asked people to compare two products at a time, which is simpler than real shopping where you might choose from many options. Additionally, the study was done before the labels were actually implemented, so we don’t know if people would use them the same way in real stores. The labels worked better for people with higher nutrition knowledge, so they may not help everyone equally in real-world situations.

The Bottom Line

The evidence strongly supports the FDA’s plan to require the new “Nutrition Info” labels on food packages. These labels appear to help most shoppers make healthier choices. If you’re shopping and see these labels, use them to compare products—they’re designed to make the healthier choice obvious. However, if you have low nutrition knowledge, you may want to also check the full nutrition facts label or ask a healthcare provider for guidance on healthy eating. Confidence level: High for the general population; Moderate for people with lower nutrition knowledge.

Everyone who buys groceries should care about this research because these labels could soon appear on foods you buy. This is especially important if you’re trying to reduce salt, sugar, or unhealthy fats in your diet. Parents shopping for their families should find these labels particularly helpful. However, people with very low nutrition literacy may need additional support beyond just the labels to make the healthiest choices.

You could start making better choices as soon as these labels appear on products—the study showed improvements happened immediately when people saw the labels. However, building long-term healthy eating habits usually takes several weeks to months. The real benefit will come when these labels become standard on most packaged foods, making it easier to compare products and stick to healthier choices over time.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track how often you use front-of-package labels when shopping and record whether you chose the product with the better label. Aim to use the labels for at least 5 product comparisons per shopping trip and track your success rate in choosing the healthier option.
  • When you see the new “Nutrition Info” label in the app or in stores, use it to compare two similar products before adding one to your cart. Make it a habit to always check the label for the three key nutrients: saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. Start with one product category (like cereal or snacks) and expand from there.
  • Over the next month, track which label information you use most often and whether it’s helping you choose lower-sodium, lower-sugar, or lower-saturated-fat options. Review your choices weekly to see if you’re gradually shifting toward products with better labels. Share your progress with a friend or family member to stay motivated.

This research shows that new food labels can help shoppers make better choices, but labels are just one tool for healthy eating. This study does not replace advice from your doctor or registered dietitian. If you have specific health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, talk to your healthcare provider about which nutrients you should limit. The labels tested in this study are a proposal and may change before being implemented. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making major changes to your diet.