Washington, DC — Consumers are increasingly reading food labels, according to a survey by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

More than half of the 2,500 adults polled reported they often read a label the first time they buy a product, which is an increase of 10 percent from 2008 results. Also, 56 percent of consumers are reportedly skeptical of industry claims such as “low fat” on the front of packages, while 41 percent trust these claims.

Consumer understanding of the link between diet and heart disease is at 91 percent, up eight percent from the FDA’s 2008 findings, while those who know of foods that might help prevent heart attacks remains flat at 81 percent, the survey found.

In other FDA news, an upcoming workshop entitled Measuring Progress on Food Safety: Current Status and Future Directions, will examine current measurements that assess progress in food safety. It will be held March 30 at the Hyatt regency Washington. Call (301) 436 1731 for registration details.