Experimental study of front-of-package nutrition labels’ efficacy on perceived healthfulness of sugar-sweetened beverages among youth in six countries

Hock, Karen; Acton, Rachel B.; Jáuregui, Alejandra; Vanderlee, Lana; White, Christine M.; Hammond, David

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101577

Cited by 28 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The WL simplifies nutritional information by directly listing nutrients occurring in high amounts. Some participants in this study felt that WLs enabled them to quickly identify products with high amounts of risk nutrients, which is supported by other experimental studies [ 27 , 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Consumers’ Perceptions of the Design of Front-of-Package Warning Labels—A Qualitative Study in China

Zhang

Yin

et al. 2023

Nutrients

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The warning label is identified as a simple front-of-package labeling format that assists consumers in making healthier food choices at the point of purchase. The color and/or shape of the design elements of the packaging labels can influence the understanding and purchase intention outcomes. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of consumers regarding differently designed warning labels (WLs) to identify a possibly suitable warning label design in the Chinese context. Using a qualitative approach, we collected data through 12 focus group discussions consisting of 116 participants residing in 6 provinces. Participants were selected by purposive sampling. Data were coded following inductive thematic analysis and summarized into three themes: (1) perceived preference for the appearance of the WLs, (2) perceived benefits of the WLs, and (3) suggestions for promoting the WLs. Participants preferred the black shield label showing a high content of the nutrients of concern (e.g., sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat) in both Chinese and English. Consumers generally agreed that the WLs were easy to understand and offered a simple method for choosing healthier foods. They anticipated that WLs could encourage the food industry to reformulate their products. Our study results will support the design and facilitate the use of WLs in China.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Consumers’ Perceptions of the Design of Front-of-Package Warning Labels—A Qualitative Study in China

Zhang

Yin

et al. 2023

Nutrients

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“…Several studies have explored consumers understanding of the N-S. Food choices surveys in different countries have yielded contradictory results (Table 2). Studies were carried out in adults, some of whom were most certainly parents, plus 1 in teenagers aged 10–17 (23), and 2 in students (24,25).…”

Section: Validation and Effectiveness Of The Nutri-scorementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutri‐Score

Chouraqui

Dupont

Briend

et al. 2022

J. pediatr. gastroenterol. nutr.

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Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is one of the top priorities of public health policies worldwide. One of the recognized means of achieving this objective is to improve the diet quality. The Nutri-Score (N-S) is a [five-color—A, B, C, D, E letters] front-of-pack labeling logo intended to help consumers quickly identify the healthier prepackaged foods within a food category. Available studies have shown that the N-S is an efficient tool to achieve this aim in terms of consumers’ awareness, perception, understanding, and purchasing and that its use may help to reduce the prevalence of NCDs. The N-S is currently implemented on a voluntary basis in 7 European countries and a discussion is underway within the European Commission to achieve a harmonized mandatory label. However, no study on the putative impact of the N-S on children’s dietary patterns and health is available. The N-S is not applicable to infants’ and young children’s formulas and to specific baby foods, the compositions of which are already laid down in European Union regulations. The N-S does not replace age-appropriate dietary guidelines. As children consume an increasing number of adult type and processed foods, the relevance of the N-S for children should be evaluated considering the children’s high specific requirements, especially in younger children. This is especially necessary for fitting fat and iron requirements, whereas protein-rich foods should be better framed. Moreover, efforts should be made to inform on how to use the N-S and in education on healthy diets.

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“…To our knowledge, there is no evidence from experimental studies or real-world evaluation studies that HSR leads to healthier food purchases [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Evidence in favor of the industry-promoted Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) system is the weakest of all, with an array of both experimental and real-world evaluation studies from across the globe finding that, relative to almost all other FOPL types, the GDAs are poorly understood, take the most time to evaluate, and are the least effective at influencing purchases [ 37 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Front-of-Package Labels on Unhealthy Packaged Foods in India: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

et al. 2022

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Policies to require front-of-package labels (FOPLs) on packaged foods may help Indian consumers to better identify foods high in nutrients of concern, including sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, and discourage their consumption, which are outcomes that are critical for preventing rises in diet-related non-communicable disease. The objective was to test whether FOPLs helped Indian consumers identify “high-in” packaged foods and reduce intentions to purchase them. We conducted an in-person randomized experiment (n = 2869 adults between ages 18 and 60 years old) in six states of India in 2022. Participants were randomized to one of five FOPLs: a control label (barcode), warning label (octagon with “High in [nutrient]”), Health Star Rating (HSR), Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), or traffic light label. Participants then viewed a series of packaged foods high in sugar, saturated fat, or sodium with the assigned FOPL, and rated product perceptions and label reactions. Fewer than half of participants in the control group (39.1%) correctly identified all products high in nutrient(s) of concern. All FOPLs led to an increase in this outcome, with the biggest differences observed for the warning label (60.8%, p < 0.001), followed by the traffic light label (54.8%, p < 0.001), GDA (55.0%, p < 0.001), and HSR (45.0%, p < 0.01). While no FOPLs led to a reduction in intentions to purchase the packaged foods, the overall pattern of results suggested that warning labels are the most effective FOPL to help Indian consumers identify unhealthy foods.

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Experimental study of front-of-package nutrition labels’ efficacy on perceived healthfulness of sugar-sweetened beverages among youth in six countries

Abstract: Highlights Front-of-package labelling reduced youths’ perceived healthfulness of a fruit drink. ‘High in’ labels were the most effective label type among youth in 5 of 6 countries. These labels may be an important strategy to improve diet quality among youth.

Cited by 28 publications

References 39 publications

Consumers’ Perceptions of the Design of Front-of-Package Warning Labels—A Qualitative Study in China

Consumers’ Perceptions of the Design of Front-of-Package Warning Labels—A Qualitative Study in China

Nutri‐Score

Front-of-Package Labels on Unhealthy Packaged Foods in India: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

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