New research found that only 35% of online groceries sold in the U.S

Study: Most Online Groceries Don't Have Nutrition Information—Here's How to Make Healthy Picks Anyway provide important nutrition information like nutrition facts, ingredients, allergens, and percent juice. But you can still be a savvy online grocery shopper—here's how

New research found that only 35% of online groceries sold in the U.S

• New research found that only 35% of online groceries sold in the U.S. provide important nutrition information like nutrition facts, ingredients, allergens, and percent juice.
• While the FDA requires food manufacturers to include this information, online retailers are not required to provide it.
• Experts urge caution when purchasing foods online with unknown nutrition information.

Picture this: You’re grocery shopping online and about to add a snack to your cart when you wonder how healthy it really is. You search the page, but details about nutrition are nowhere to be found. You have no idea how many calories the product is—not to mention what ingredients it contains.

If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. In fact, a new study has highlighted the lack of nutritional information accompanying groceries sold online, finding that a majority—65%—of items reviewed didn’t also come with a visible and legible display of nutritional contents.

This study is a "broadening and updating" of research conducted by the same team in 2021, when the pandemic led to an explosion of online grocery shopping, study author Sean B. Cash, PhD, an associate professor at Tufts University’s School of Nutrition Science and Policy, told Health. That research similarly found low visibility of online nutrition information.

Although the team had hoped nutrition information would have become more prominent online in the first half of 2022, the timeframe of the new research, Cash said this didn't appear to be the case. “I wouldn’t say we have a strong finding it was getting worse, but [it's] not getting better,” he said. 

Here’s what you need to know about what else researchers discovered, why the findings matter, and how you can still make healthy choices online despite the lack of nutritional information.

A Lack of Labels

To assess the nutrition information landscape of online groceries, Cash and his colleagues developed a list of 60 commonly purchased foods across eight major product categories, including bakery, beverages, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.

They then selected 10 major retailers that represent at least 79% of the U.S. online grocery market and, for each category, gathered data on the accessibility and legibility of four areas of nutrition information: nutrition facts, ingredients, allergen statements, and percent juice for fruit drinks. 

They found that, on average, across the 10 retailers, these four elements were available only 35% of the time. Each individual category was also available about 35% of the time.

Certain product categories were more likely than others to be missing this critical information. Meat and eggs, for example, had the lowest availability of nutrition facts, at about 24%. Bakery items, sweets, and snacks were the least likely to feature ingredient lists and allergen information, at 30% and 29%, respectively.

However, most online retailers did clearly feature marketing claims. These statements, which included terms like “gluten-free” or “all-natural,” as well as certifications like “certified vegan” or organic, appeared on 84% of all items.

Is Nutrition Information Required Online?

Though the Food and Drug Administration mandates that manufacturers disclose certain nutrition information on food packaging, such as ingredient lists and major allergens, the language doesn’t explicitly address products sold online or require anything from retailers.

“Currently, there are no regulations from the FDA for online sales,” Claire Edgemon, MS, RDN, LDN, a senior registered dietitian in the Weight Loss and Metabolic Center at Baylor College of Medicine, told Health.

Because of this, retailers have broad discretion regarding how they disclose nutrition information online. They can include certain aspects, such as whether the product contains an allergen, or none at all, and they can decide where they place the information on the page.

However, change may be in the works. “In 2023, the FDA issued a Request for Information in order to gather more information about how food labeling information is provided for online grocery shopping,” Edgemon said.

Cash said this request partly motivated his team’s study, and that they will submit their research to the FDA.

Why Online Nutrition Information Matters

While online grocery shopping has waned since the height of the COVID pandemic, it’s still a popular way to purchase food. According to a 2024 report from the USDA, nearly 20% of grocery shoppers say they’ve bought food online at least once in the previous 30 days.

For online grocery shoppers, access to nutrition information can make a meaningful difference in health. Research has found that using nutrition labels to inform buying decisions is associated with consuming fewer sugar-sweetened beverages and eating significantly more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

“It’s important for anyone to know what’s in their food from a health perspective or just a food preference consideration,” Bonnie Taub-Dix, a registered dietitian and author of “Read It Before You Eat It—Taking You from Label to Table,” told Health. “If someone has high blood pressure or diabetes or any number of nutrition-related medical conditions, reading labels is essential to detect hidden sugars or sources of sodium, just to name a few examples.”

Besides longer-term implications, a lack of information could also lead to acute adverse health events. Unwittingly consuming food allergens could cause dangerous or life-threatening reactions, Taub-Dix said.

Edgemon added that increased food waste and financial loss are other potential issues. “People could order the product but only read the nutrition information once they have it in hand,” she said. “If it is unacceptable, they may be frustrated that they spent money on a product they couldn’t eat.”

How to Be a Savvy Online Grocery Shopper

If your favorite online grocer doesn’t provide nutrition information, you likely don’t have to visit an in-person store to find it. Cash suggests visiting specific food manufacturers’ websites. Unlike retailers, manufacturers must provide ingredients, nutrition information, and common allergens.

You could even go further to be a part of the solution. “Give feedback to your online retailer,” Cash recommended. “If retailers start to understand [the problem], it will raise the level of attention to find a fix.”

If you’re unsure about a food’s contents—especially if you have a health issue that requires a specific diet or avoiding certain ingredients—Taub-Dix urges caution. “Don’t assume it’s safe,” she said. “If something isn’t labeled properly or the information is incomplete, think twice before adding it to your cart.”

Alternatively, she said, it’s wise to stick with brands and products whose ingredients and nutrition you already know.

As for making healthy choices in general, Edgemon said the same rules apply to online shopping as in-person shopping—even in the absence of labels. “Choose minimally processed foods like lean meats, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables,” she advised. “Many times, you don’t need to read the ‘fine print’ to know these are healthier options.”

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Sarah Garone