Study Exposes Misinformation on Product Labels of Sports Foods
According to the study published in the Frontiers in Nutrition journal, scientists from Deakin University conducted an audit of formulated supplementary sports foods sold in Australia, including protein-based products, carbohydrate-based powders and gels, as well as other products like creatine and beta-alanine.
Among 558 products captured in the audit, 283 products didn't display the prescribed name "Formulated Supplementary Sports Food" or contain any related warning and advisory statements.
The researchers also found that only 184 products appeared to display the correct energy value based on the listed macronutrient content.
"These findings suggest current labelling is misleading and deceptive. We need a complete overhaul of labelling for sports foods and restrictions placed on where these foods are sold to ensure consumers have the accurate information needed to make healthy choices," Celeste Chapple, lead author of the study and Ph.D. candidate at Deakin University, said.
As consumers might expect these sports foods to provide the energy and nutrients required for a fit and healthy lifestyle, Chapple noted that the mislabelling could result in people eating too much or not enough of certain nutrients.
"In addition to misleading nutrient information, almost all the sports foods surveyed included an artificial sweetener and many products contained multiple artificial sweeteners which we know can be harmful for some people," Chapple added.
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