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Do Grocery Store and Fast Food Health Labels Lead to Better Choices?

Researchers suggest several factors influence our behavior when it comes to choosing healthy meals.

By Sara Novak
Jul 18, 2022 12:00 PM
Food labels
(Credit: Zephyr_p/Shutterstock)

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Food labels are more descriptive than ever. From gluten free to low fat, low sugar, vegan and everything in between, labels allow us to know more about the foods we buy. While we might have more information, that doesn’t necessarily mean we are using that information when choosing our food.

Researchers contend that food choices aren’t just about health, they’re made for a host of reasons that have to do with cost, habit and convenience. While in some cases, we do read and care about labels, that’s not the whole picture, says Eli Liebman, an assistant professor in the department of economics at the University of Georgia.

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