The placement of nutrition information on the front of food packages has been proposed as a method of providing simplified and visible nutrition information. This study aimed to determine the most acceptable and effective front-of-pack food labelling system for Australian consumers. Consumers' preferences and ability to compare the healthiness of mock food products were assessed for different front-of-pack labelling systems. Four systems were tested, including two variations of the Percentage Daily Intake system (Monochrome %DI and Colour-Coded %DI), which displays the proportion of daily nutrient contribution that a serve of food provides; and two variations of the Traffic Light (TL) system (Traffic Light and Traffic Light + Overall Rating), which uses colour-coding to indicate nutrient levels. Intercept surveys with 790 consumers were conducted, where each participant was exposed to a single labelling system for performance testing. Participants indicated strong support for the inclusion of nutrient information on total fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium on the front of packages, and a consistent labelling format across all products. Using the TL system, participants were five times more likely to identify healthier foods compared with the Monochrome %DI system [odds ratio (OR) = 5.18; p < 0.001], and three times more likely compared with the Colour-Coded %DI system (OR = 3.01; p < 0.05). Consumers supported the introduction of consistent front-of-pack food labelling. The TL system was the most effective in assisting consumers to identify healthier foods. Mandatory TL labelling regulations are recommended to assist consumers in making healthy food choices.
Objective: To investigate nutrition literacy among adult grocery buyers regarding energy-related labelling terms on food packaging. Design: Qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to determine shoppers' understanding of energy terms ('energy', 'calories' and 'kilojoules') and how energy terms affect perceptions of healthiness and intentions to purchase breakfast cereals, muesli bars and frozen meals. Setting: Individual in-depth interviews and surveys in two metropolitan supermarkets, Sydney, Australia. Subjects: Australian adults (interview n 40, survey n 405) aged 18-79 years. Results: The relationship between energy and perceived healthiness of food varied by product type: higher energy breakfast cereals were perceived to be healthier, while lower energy frozen meals were seen as healthier choices. Likewise, intentions to purchase the higher energy product varied according to product type. The primary reason stated for purchasing higher energy products was for sustained energy. Participants from households of lower socio-economic status were significantly more likely to perceive higher energy products as healthier. From the qualitative interviews, participants expressed uncertainty about their understanding of kilojoules, while only 40 % of participants in intercept surveys correctly answered that kilojoules and calories measured the same thing. Conclusions: Australian consumers have a poor understanding of energy and kilojoules and tend to perceive higher energy products as healthier and providing sustained energy. This has implications regarding the usefulness of industry front-ofpack labelling initiatives and quick service restaurant menu labelling that provides information on energy content only. Comprehensive and widely communicated education campaigns will be essential to guide consumers towards healthier choices.
OBJECTIVES To examine whether higher levels of perceived stress are associated with lower levels of cognitive function and faster cognitive decline in older Chinese‐American adults. DESIGN Longitudinal. SETTING Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). PARTICIPANTS PINE is the largest population‐based epidemiological study of Chinese Americans aged 60 and older in the greater Chicago area. Wave 1 data were collected from 3,159 older adults during 2011 to 2013. Wave 2 data were collected from 2,713 older adults during 2013 to 2015. MEASUREMENTS In addition to sociodemographic and health‐related variables, participants completed the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale and multiple cognitive tasks. Episodic memory was assessed using the East Boston Memory Tests, perceptual speed was assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and working memory was assessed using the Digit Span Backwards. RESULTS Controlling for sociodemographic and health‐related variables, mixed‐effects regression models showed that higher levels of perceived stress were associated with poorer episodic memory, perceptual speed, and working memory in older Chinese‐American adults but not with faster cognitive decline over an average 2‐year interval. CONCLUSION The present study is the first population‐based, longitudinal study to examine the relationships between perceived stress and cognitive decline in older Chinese‐American adults. It suggests the importance of researchers, social workers, and policy makers developing programs to reduce stress and improve cognitive function in older Chinese‐American adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S519–S524, 2019.
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