Survey reveals most Americans are confused about "healthy" foods because of conflicting data on what to eat and avoid

By roselidell // 2021-06-12

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Exercising regularly and following a balanced diet is key to maintaining your overall well-being. But according to the very surprising results of a survey, most Americans are confused about "what counts as a healthy food choice." Experts have traced the misunderstanding to conflicting data on proper nutrition and guidelines on healthy eating.

Conflicting data is confusing for consumers

Findings from the annual Food and Health survey, which was conducted in 2017 by the International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC), showed that:

At least eight in 10 survey respondents (78 percent) have encountered conflicting information about what foods to eat and what to avoid.
More than 50 percent of respondents second-guess their food choices because of the conflicting data.

Liz Sanders, director of research and partnerships at IFIC and a co-author of the survey, explained that these findings weren't surprising given that consumer doubts can make it much harder to sort through conflicting information on healthy eating. American consumers rely on different sources of information about the best and worst kinds of foods to eat and avoid. However, some of these sources can't be trusted, particularly those that "share inconsistent information."

What kinds of food do Americans consider as "healthy?"

The online survey involved 1,002 American adults who completed it in March 2017. According to the results:

Almost 60 percent of respondents ranked being "high in healthy components or nutrients" as one of the top three factors for "healthy" food.
A little over half of the respondents ranked "free from artificial ingredients, preservatives or additives" among the top three factors.
Almost 50 percent ranked "part of an important food group that I need to build a healthy eating style" among the top three factors.
Factors like "organic" and "non-GMO" (genetically modified) were less likely to be ranked.

Aside from being confused about what foods are considered "healthy," survey respondents were also confused about good and bad eating habits. Most of the respondents reported that they ask their friends and family for advice on food choices. The same people also considered dietitians and health care professionals as their most trusted sources for guidance. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, said that the problem is linked to the difficulty of finding reliable nutrition information. Adding to the issue is consumers being faced with conflicting messages from "dubious sources." Mozaffarian, who wasn't involved in the survey, said that the survey results aren't all bad. The results also showed that despite the confusion, consumers understand that certain foods rich in vitamins and minerals should be part of an important food group. When asked to rank the healthfulness of individual-specific components and ingredients, the majority of the respondents placed vitamin D, fiber and whole grains at the top of the list and saturated fats at the bottom. The researchers also discovered an age gap in respondents who found unsaturated fats to be "healthy." At least half of the survey respondents 65 and older called unsaturated fats healthy while only 33 percent of those aged 18 to 34 agreed. Mozaffarian noted that the "low recognition of the importance of healthy fats" was disappointing. Additionally, older respondents were more likely to consider saturated fats as unhealthy, which most health experts say is correct.

Confusion and misinformation may be linked to the obesity epidemic

Dr. Roxanne Sukol, a preventive medicine specialist at the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic, said that the spread of conflicting information and misinformation could be a major factor in America's obesity epidemic. Like Sanders, Sukol wasn't surprised by the survey results since two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 percent of Americans "have either diabetes or prediabetes by age 65." Sukol said that this suggests current health initiatives aren't effective. Because people are confused, they're making poor choices when it comes to their well-being. Sukol wasn't involved in the new survey. Sanders acknowledged that like most surveys, they faced limitations and the data they collated came from self-reports. But since the survey is conducted annually, the data allowed trends to emerge. Over time, the researchers noticed most trends were linked to purchasing factors. Both taste and price were also often the top two factors that have driven purchasing, with healthfulness in third place. This suggests that what is considered healthy doesn't always beat out what tastes the best or what is more affordable, in terms of affecting a food purchase, said Sanders.

Why are consumers confused about "healthy" foods and habits?

According to Sanders, while the term "healthy" is often brought up in various conversations around food, not everyone agrees on what is healthy. One example is the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) attempts to update guidelines for the term "healthy" along with its use in food labeling. Back in 2016, the FDA launched a public process to redefine what "healthy" means when used on food labels:

For a food product to be marketed as healthy, it should have low levels of cholesterol, sodium and total and saturated fat.
The product should also have at least 10 percent of the daily requirements for vitamins, fiber and other nutrients.

Sukol said that the word "healthy" is confusing and should be replaced with the term "nourishing," particularly since some processed foods are often marketed as "healthy," which is often confusing for consumers. While experts continue to debate about what is considered "healthy," the human brain innately responds to what is "nourishing," added Sukol. The problem is the conflict between what consumers think they know and what their brains are is telling them. Often, consumers don't trust their brains. They trust what they think they learned, which adds to the confusion on healthy eating habits.

Consumer habits are changing post-pandemic

Now that America is recovering after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the 2021 Food and Health Survey shows that consumers are more informed compared to the 2017 survey.

At least three-quarters of respondents (73 percent) are confident in their ability to choose healthy foods.
Back in 2016, 17 percent of American consumers identified healthy food based more on the components it lacks, like fats and sugars, than the components it has. In the 2021 survey, 27 percent of respondents reported that healthy food is defined by the presence of "good" components like fruits, vegetables and nutrients.
At least 25 percent defined healthy food by the absence of "bad" components.
Another 25 percent of respondents said healthy food is anything "good for you."

Sanders suggests consulting the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are published every five years for reliable information on which foods are essential for a balanced diet. She added that the guidelines are based on peer-reviewed research and the opinion of trusted health experts. Consume more superfoods, only consult reliable sources of information when researching healthy foods and eating habits and avoid eating junk foods to boost your overall health. Sources: Edition.CNN.com GlobeNewswire.com