This pan-european study seeked to explore and comprehend European consumers attitudes towards ‘free-from’ labels, by producing science-based consumer research on the awareness and interpretation of ‘free-from’ labelling terms, the healthfulness perception of products carrying ‘free-from’ labels, and the role of ‘free-from’ labels in food choice and purchasing behaviour.
Food processing are the methods and techniques that turn fresh foods into food products. A range of operations are used, including washing, chopping, pasteurising, freezing, packaging and the addition of ingredients, which may change the nutritional characteristics of a food.
There is growing demand by the public to be informed about the various impacts of food consumption, including effects on the environment, animal welfare and working conditions in developing countries. Information about these issues sometimes appears in the form of labels.
In a climate of obesity, the amount consumers eat is just as important as what is eaten. Nutrition information on food labels is a major way to encourage consumers to make healthier choices.
In order to help consumers make healthier choices, nutrition information, normally found on the back of food packages, has begun to appear on the front of food packages.
EUFIC’s mission is to provide science-based information on food to the media, health and nutrition professionals, educators, opinion leaders and consumers.
In 2003, EUFIC desk research revealed that a certain amount of consumer research is already available concerning consumer understanding of the nutrition label content and format.
The field of risk communication is going through a period of change. Evolving from misconceptions involving nuclear power plant crises, the area is now closely intertwined with food.