New research reveals that health claims on packaged foods may not reliably reflect their overall nutritional quality, urging consumers to scrutinise full Nutrition Facts panels rather than rely on front-of-pack promises.
Packaged foods that advertise themselves as “reduced-fat”, “low-sodium” or “sugar-free” can seem like the obvious healthier pick at the supermarket, but new research suggests those front-of-pack claims may tell only part of the story. A study published in Nature Food found that products carrying health or nutrition claims were not always meaningfully better overall, and in some cases a cut in one nutrient was paired with less favourable levels of another. The authors said consumers should look beyond a single claim and check the full Nutrition Facts panel before deciding what to buy.
The research team examined more than 145,000 packaged foods and drinks introduced in the United States between 2015 and 2024. More than half of the new products carried at least one health or nutrition claim, including reductions in sugar, fat, sodium or calories, as well as added protein or fibre, “natural” positioning and implied health benefits. Using a nutrient profiling model that weighed calories, saturated fat, sugar and sodium against fibre, protein, fruit and vegetable content, the researchers found that products with claims tended to score better on average than those without them. Even so, roughly two-thirds of all the products studied were still classed as less healthy. In some categories, labels such as “lower trans fat” were linked with higher sodium and saturated fat, while some lower-sodium drinks had more sugar.
Cornell University researcher Pei Zhou said the findings show why shoppers should not treat a single claim as a shortcut for judging a product’s overall quality. Another author, Miguel I. Gómez, said the results underline the difference between a relative improvement and a genuinely healthy product. The research suggests a food can be better than a competing version and still fall short of what most people might consider a nutritious choice. That distinction matters because nutrition claims often work as a halo, making packaged items seem healthier than they really are.
Nutrition specialists say the problem is built into product reformulation itself. Laurel Santiago, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New Jersey, said fat, salt and sugar do much more than change taste: they also help with texture, moisture, structure and shelf life. Remove one ingredient and manufacturers often have to replace it with starches, gums or extra sugar to preserve the expected mouthfeel. The broader message from the study is not that claims are meaningless, but that they are selective. They may accurately describe one feature of a product, while the rest of the label tells a different nutritional story. Researchers and food policy experts say that is why front-of-pack promises work best when they are read alongside the full ingredient list and nutrition panel, not instead of them.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
