Survey: U.S. Consumers confused about fiber intake

Battle Creek / MG. (kc) The recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines identifies fiber as one of four nutrients of concern, noting most U.S. Americans fail to get enough in their daily diet. Confusion about which foods contain the important nutrient may be one reason many consumers look to the wrong foods to meet their fiber needs. Aiming to better understand U.S. Americans´ knowledge of fiber, Kellogg Company commissioned a consumer survey of 1’006 adults, conducted in November 2010 by Caravan Survey. The results uncovered some surprising information gaps. Some key findings include …

  • Americans Think They Get Enough Fiber, But Most Fall Far Short: Four out of five Americans surveyed say they make a conscious effort to include fiber in their diet and 80 percent believe they get enough. Yet, the reality is that less than one in ten actually get the recommended daily intake of 25 grams of fiber.
  • Looking For Fiber In All The Wrong Places: Among those surveyed, 20 percent mistakenly believe that meats and seafood provide dietary fiber and 17 percent say dairy products are fiber sources. One in ten even thinks fiber is in water.
  • Fiber Is Not Just For Regularity: Fifteen percent of Americans falsely believe that they only need to eat fiber when they are experiencing irregularity, despite strong, consistent evidence that diets high in fiber contribute to overall health and help address health issues, including digestive health, weight management, diabetes, heart health and certain cancers.

«Our research indicates a need for further consumer education about where to find dietary fiber, and it is underscored by the Dietary Guidelines naming fiber a nutrient of concern», said Lisa Sutherland, vice president of Kellogg North America Nutrition. «The fact is the vast majority of Americans are failing to get even half of the needed 25 grams of fiber each day». Fiber can be found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes. However, when it comes to whole grains, the fiber content varies significantly. The key, according to Dietary Guidelines recommendations, is for people to use the nutrition label to compare whole-grain products to find choices higher in dietary fiber. In general, foods with three grams of fiber are considered a good source and foods with five grams of fiber are an excellent source, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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