Online Grocery Retailers Are Missing Label Information Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search NEWS Fitness and Nutrition News Missing Food Labels at Online Grocery Retailers Need to Be Fixed, Study Shows By Cara Rosenbloom, RD Cara Rosenbloom, RD Cara Rosenbloom RD is a dietitian, journalist, book author, and the founder of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications company in Toronto, ON. Learn about our editorial process Published on January 31, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Elaine Hinzey, RD Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD Elaine Hinzey is a registered dietitian, writer, and fact-checker with nearly two decades of experience in educating clients and other healthcare professionals. Learn about our editorial process Print Svetikd / Getty Images Key Takeaways Many products listed with online grocery retailers are missing key information that consumers need, such as ingredient lists, allergen information, and nutrition facts.The absence of this information is potentially harmful to consumers, who may use the information to manage their health and nutrition needs.Researchers note that key government agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, are responsible for fixing this gap. Online grocery shopping is convenient and continues to grow in popularity. But a new study published in Public Health Nutrition sheds light on a hidden downside to this shopping method—many online products do not have information about ingredients, allergens, or nutrition facts, which is a huge miss. “Food retailers should immediately change their practices and disclose the full information panel clearly, consistently, and legibly,” says Jennifer Pomeranz, JD, MPH, assistant professor of public health policy and management at the NYU School of Global Public Health and a study author. U.S. federal regulations require that specific information is shared on food labels. But the same requirements are not being enforced in the online grocery world. Government agencies should oversee this researchers say, but the use of online grocery shopping has outpaced the federal regulations that are required for Americans to stay informed and safe. About the Study Researchers looked at products listed with online grocery retailers to see if retailers are properly sharing regulated label information about products, such as ingredient lists, nutrition facts, and allergen warnings. They scanned 10 well-known products from nine national online grocery retailers. "Our examination revealed concerning deficiencies in the provision of required Nutrition Facts labels, ingredient lists, common food allergens, and percent juice for fruit drinks," says Sean Cash, PhD, Bergstrom Foundation Professor in Global Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and a study author. "Required information was present, conspicuous, and legible for only 36.5% of observations." What’s even more troubling, researchers say, is that non-required information, such as claims like “low in fat” or “organic,” were prominently displayed on 63.5% of the products. Marketing buzzwords proved to be a priority over pertinent allergy or ingredient information. "Right now consumers cannot count on finding some important information in online grocery stores that would otherwise be easily visible on the packages in conventional grocery stores, even while health-related marketing claims may be more readily accessible," says Dr. Cash. Researchers also investigated the laws to see which federal regulatory agencies are responsible for overseeing online grocery information. A deep dive into the legal requirements showed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all have existing regulatory authority over labeling, online sales and advertising, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Decoding the Health Claims on Food Labels Why It Matters Labeling information is important for all consumers so they can make informed choices when grocery shopping. People may use the nutrition facts panel to determine sodium and potassium to manage heart or kidney disease or may focus on sugar, fiber, or carbohydrates to manage diabetes. People with food allergies or intolerances need ingredient lists and allergy declarations to stay safe. Sean Cash, PhD, Difficulty in finding mandatory allergen information on some products could actually pose an immediate danger of a severe reaction or even death to the most sensitive consumers. — Sean Cash, PhD, "Difficulty in finding mandatory allergen information on some products could actually pose an immediate danger of a severe reaction or even death to the most sensitive consumers," says Dr. Cash. Dr. Cash also points out the availability of food labels makes a difference to the quality of our food choices at the population level. Not having this information potentially undermines the generalpublic health. Front of Package Labeling Improves Nutrition Quality, Study Shows How to Address the Problem Because multiple government agencies can play a role in enforcing online regulations, the research team spent some time investigating the proper channels. Jennifer Pomeranz, JD, MPH My legal analysis led me to conclude that the FDA, FTC, and USDA have existing authorities to address the lack of consistent disclosure of required information for food sold through online retailers. — Jennifer Pomeranz, JD, MPH “Congress can enact a law to require online food retailers to display the full information panel for food products sold online,” says Pomeranz. “My legal analysis led me to conclude that the FDA, FTC, and USDA have existing authorities to address the lack of consistent disclosure of required information for food sold through online retailers.” Pomeranz explains that the FDA’s definition of labeling arguably already includes the display of products on online retailer websites because it performs the same function as package labeling. “The FDA could issue guidance or warning letters on this point,” says Pomeranz. “The FTC has the authority to address unfair and deceptive acts and practices, and the lack of disclosure may qualify as both.” What Are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? Consequences for SNAP Participants Many SNAP participants shop online and can run into problems if they cannot see the ingredients, nutrition facts, or allergen information of products they buy. “For SNAP participants, the lack of transparency is especially concerning because they may not have a choice among online retailers who accept SNAP benefits,” says Pomeranz. “Other consumers can choose which online retailer to use—and can make that choice based on transparent sales andmarketing practices. SNAP beneficiaries do not necessarily have that same choice.” Pomeranz explains that the USDA should require online retailers to display the full information panel as a prerequisite to qualifying as a SNAP retailer. “If the USDA acted, retailers would likely quickly abide by the requirements as the fear of losing the ability to accept and redeem SNAP benefits would likely outweigh concerns over violating FDA labeling regulations, for instance,” says Pomeranz. What This Means For You Until Congress or one of the government agencies fixes this problem, look for online retailers who provide full nutrition labels for all of the products that they sell, especially if you have health or nutrition needs that require you to know what you are consuming. And if retailers do not provide this information, ask them to. There is power in consumer demand. Different Grocery Store Layouts May Help Shoppers Choose Healthier Foods, Study Says 3 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. invesp. US online grocery shopping - statistics and trends [infographic]. Pomeranz JL, Cash SB, Springer M, Del Giudice IM, Mozaffarian D. Opportunities to address the failure of online food retailers to ensure access to required food labeling information in the USA. Public Health Nutr. Published online January 24, 2022:1-9. doi:10.1017/S1368980021004638 USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Stores accepting SNAP online. By Cara Rosenbloom, RD Cara Rosenbloom RD is a dietitian, journalist, book author, and the founder of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications company in Toronto, ON. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles Best Online Nutritionist Certifications of 2022 How to Use NLEA Serving Sizes to Outsmart Food Labels and Lose Weight Soy Protein Powder Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits Hemp Protein Powder Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits Is Rye a Safe Option for Your Gluten-Free Diet? Diet-To-Go Review: Meal Delivery for Dieters The Best Casein Protein Powders, According to a Dietitian Casein Protein Powder Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits Brown Rice Protein Powder Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits The Best Places to Buy Vitamins Online, According to a Dietitian How to Count Carbs for Health or Wellness Shrimp Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits The 6 Best Pea Protein Powders of 2022, According to a Dietitian The 5 Best Hemp Protein Powders Available, Recommended by a Dietician The 6 Best Gluten-Free Vitamin Brands, Chosen by a Dietician Corn Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All