'Reduced sodium', 'no trans fat': when the health claim on the pack points the wrong way

A study published in Nature Food on 24 September 2026 asked how well on-package claims such as 'low sodium', 'natural' or 'added protein' signal a product's overall nutritional quality. The Cornell University team used the Mintel Global New Products Database of newly launched US foods and drinks, and scored each product with the UK nutrient profiling model, which weighs sugar, salt, saturated fat and energy against fibre, protein and fruit and vegetable content.

Across the market, products with claims often had better nutrient profiles, but the pattern was inconsistent across claim types and product categories. Foods carrying trans-fat claims and drinks carrying sodium claims often scored worse overall than similar products without the claims. Cornell's release puts the scale at nearly 150,000 products launched over a decade: two-thirds were rated less healthy overall, even though half carried a health claim. The authors point to reformulation trade-offs, such as a 'no trans fat' meal leaning harder on saturated fat and sodium.

Even when products with claims scored better, many were still classed as 'less healthy'. The practical lesson for shoppers is to read the full nutrition panel and the ingredient list, not just the front of the pack.