The glycemic index concept in action

The glycemic concept is already being used as a means of differentiating products in the food industry. The aim of this summary is to show how the glycemic concept is being used by the food manufacturing industry, how it is perceived and understood by consumers, and how different countries rate its importance in terms of regulatory provision and consequent labeling implications. The use of the glycemic index (GI) is the most prominent form of labeling in the marketplace to date, and the use of GI symbol programs and other labeling initiatives are considered. The Australian market has been exposed to the GI phenomenon the longest, and consumer awareness in this market is very high. However, on a global scale, the picture is very different, and consumer awareness varies considerably. A broader view of how the global consumer uses nutritional labels is given. I also review how consumers are willing to adopt foods that offer health benefits in general and, more specifically, from the glycemic concept. I also summarize aspects to be addressed for consumers to benefit from the glycemic concept in action in the longer term.