Labels can help some people sometimes in some cases, if they have the knowledge
or motivation to use the information, which may or may not be in a format they
can understand. (Rotfeld 2009, p. 375)
The above quote, while full of qualifications and provides a
concise summary of the state of research on the topic of nutrition labeling,
and its effects on consumer attitude and evaluation. Yet the
quote itself illustrates the complexity of the issue and the cryptic nature
of some of the findings on the impact of labeling on consumer behavior.
Research on nutrition labeling, its design and the potential effects
on food choice and subsequent health behavior has been extensive—
due in part to the complexity of the issue, but mostly because of