Public perceptions of fiber in foods

The nutritional value of consuming fiber has received much recent attention, yet little is known about how the public perceives fiber in foods. We asked a sample of 517 adults to name foods which are high and low in fiber and to explain what made a food a high‐fiber food. Nine in ten could name at least one high‐fiber food, and three in four could name at least one low‐fiber food. The most frequently named high‐fiber foods were grains, followed by vegetables and fruits. Foods reported most often as low in fiber were fruits/vegetables, sweets/snacks and meats. Two in three people were able to provide some explanation about why foods were high in fiber. Food fiber is a recognizable concept for most U.S. adults, but additional nutrition education about fiber in foods may be useful to provide more complete knowledge.

Key words:

• Fiber
• diet surveys
• food habits
• perceptions
• foods