Nutritional Labeling of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Survey at the Community Level

Background: Given that compliance with the guidelines and instructions for displaying nutritional color coding on food products is mandatory in Iran and the goal of this is to assist consumers in identifying the nutritional characteristics of a product so they can make informed choices based on their physical condition and personal needs, the purpose of this study was to examine the labeling of sweetened beverages in the community.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Tabriz. In this research, 462 sugar-sweetened beverages were examined using a researcher-made checklist.

Results: The study examined 462 sugar-sweetened beverages, revealing that fruit drinks comprised 43.3% of the selection, while sports drinks were only 7%. A total of 99.8% of products included nutritional indicators, but 2.5% displayed mismatches between sugar content and color indicators. Additionally, 85.9% of labels were clear and legible, with 74.7% appropriately sized for the product.

Conclusion: The study highlights significant compliance with nutritional labeling guidelines among sugar-sweetened beverages in Tabriz, particularly regarding the presence of essential information. However, discrepancies in color coding for sugar content and issues with label visibility and placement indicate areas for improvement. To enhance consumer awareness and understanding, it is crucial to address these discrepancies and ensure that nutritional labels are both informative and easily accessible.