Supermarket and Retail

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aiming to publish a proposed rule to reform the Nutrition Facts panel and related rules by the end of this year, somewhat later than originally expected.  A spokesman said: “FDA hopes to publish, by the end of the calendar year, a proposed rule, which if finalized, would revise the Nutrition Facts panel.”

On October 20, 2011 the Institute of Medicine released its Phase II report on Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols.  The Phase I report focused on evaluating current systems and nutritional criteria and resulted in a report in Fall 2010.  In the second phase the committee was tasked to consider:  the potential benefits of a single, standardized front-label food guidance system regulated by the FDA, assessment of which icons are most effective with consumer audiences, and development of conclusions about the systems and icons that best promote health and how to maximize their use.  From the Committee’s review of the available evidence, they concluded that there are no flawless FOP symbol systems in the marketplace and that a single, standardized system that is easily understood by most age groups and appearing on all food products would be the best option to maximize its effectiveness in encouraging consumers to make healthier food choice and purchase decisions.  The complete Phase II report can be found at:  http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13221 

Taste, price and healthier foods and beverages get high marks during the International Food Information Council Foundation's annual 2011 Food & Health Survey. It isn't surprising that Americans are more conscious of the price they pay for food, but it is increasingly becoming almost as important as taste, according to the Washington, D.C.-based International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation's sixth annual 2011 Food & Health Survey of 1,000 American adults over a two and a half-week period in March and April of 2011. While taste remains the top attribute, consumers say price impacts their decision when deciding which foods and beverages to purchase. While healthfulness, convenience, and sustainability play roles in consumer decision-making, no other motivator rose at the same rate as price over the past five years. It's notable that these trends are consistent with what drives Americans' menu decisions at restaurants: taste and price are ranked as the top two motivators. Americans also say that lower prices are the top driver that would lead them to make more healthful choices when shopping for food.

Two new reports from the NPD Group set out the next decade’s food futures for both nations, and point out similarities and differences. Insights like these could help diminish product launches offered with inappropriate flavors, textures, form and packaging – which have created some memorable busts. The NPD reports are A Look into the Future of Eating – Canadian Marketplace, and A Look into the Future of Eating – United States Marketplace. First, the standout similarity predicted by these studies: Convenience will continue to be a leading factor in food consumption. Easy meals such as yogurt, fruit and snack bars, and heat-and-eat entrees like canned soup and frozen pizza, should grow almost equally in both the U.S. and Canada over the next 10 years.