CAN CONSUMERS INTERPRET NUTRITION INFORMATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A HEALTH CLAIM - A LABORATORY INVESTIGATION

The authors report the results of a laboratory experiment that investi gates whether consumers can evaluate nutrition information in the pres ence of a health claim. Results show that both health claims and nutri tion information influence beliefs about product healthfulness. Howeve r health claims do not influence the processing of nutrition informati on on a food label. Rather, health claims and nutrition information ha ve independent effects on consumer beliefs. The authors discuss the im plications of these findings for the Food and Drug Administration poli cy on limiting health claims.