Food manufacturers around the world have been encouraged to make the information on printed labels easier for people to understand.
According to Nielsen, making nutritional details more accessible and consumer-friendly could be a "powerful marketing tool" for businesses in the sector.
James Russo, spokesman for the group, commented: "Consumers are hungry for easy-to-understand information."
Figures from Nielsen showed that while 41 per cent of people believe they are mainly able to understand the nutritional data on food packaging, 59 per cent were said to have difficulty.
Statistics also indicated that 53 per cent of respondents think they are overweight.
Mr Russo added that healthy eating is a priority for consumers all over the world, which means food providers have an "opportunity to help" them improve their lifestyles.
According to the NHS, almost one in four adults in England were classed as obese in 2008. The organisation expects the number of people with weight issues to increase over the next few years.
Denny Bros Ltd, 30 January 2012
