Choosing nutritional products: Why transparency comes first

For parents choosing nutritional products for young children, the decision increasingly begins with a QR code, a label check or a search on a phone. Clear information that consumers can verify has become an important part of deciding which products to bring home.

The first years of life form the foundation for children’s physical, intellectual and immune development. In a crowded market, parents want more than a nutritional formula. They also want confidence that the product’s origin and quality can be checked.

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I make a habit of carefully checking the information on the packaging, searching for more information on my phone and comparing sources before deciding to buy. When I can verify the origin and quality of a can of milk myself, I feel more reassured and confident choosing a product for my family.

Do Thi Ut Hoa, a parent in Ho Chi Minh City, said she often spends time comparing brands at the store. “I make a habit of carefully checking the information on the packaging, searching for more information on my phone and comparing sources before deciding to buy. When I can verify the origin and quality of a can of milk myself, I feel more reassured and confident choosing a product for my family.”

Le Quang Dang, chief of the office of the Vietnam Consumer Rights Protection Association, said transparent origin information, especially through accessible electronic data systems, could reassure consumers before they choose a product.

Retailers also report that shoppers increasingly seek information about origin, quality, production processes and related certifications rather than relying only on advertising. Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hong, director of the mother-and-child product category at AVAKids, said brands that provide complete, accessible and verifiable information generally build stronger customer trust.

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Transparent origin information, especially through accessible electronic data systems, will help consumers feel reassured before making product choices.

Companies are expanding that information through digital tools. Nestlé has invested in systems that digitize product data and traceability. When consumers scan a QR code placed on the bottom of a can, they can see the product name and image, manufacturing plant, origin, batch number, production date, expiration date and authentication status in less than five seconds.

The code also provides information about standards and certifications used by the company, including FSSC 22000 for food safety management systems.

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Many consumers are increasingly interested in finding information about origin, quality, production processes and related certifications instead of relying only on promotional claims.