The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s Health Check Food Information Program

Abstract

Background: A conceptual model was proposed and tested in order to link attitudinal and awareness factors that might explain changes in food purchase behaviours and dietary patterns related to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's Health Check food information program. Methods: Two hundred food shoppers completed a survey inquiring about demographics, diet-related health conditions, attitude toward healthy food purchases, use of food package information, and awareness, perceived value and reported use of the Health Check logo. Participants provided their receipt for groceries purchased and completed a dietary fat assessment. Path analysis was used to test the model.Results: Shoppers purchasing a Health Check product had lower fat intakes than shoppers who did not (30.4% vs. 33.9% calories from fat; p<0.05). There was strong association (ß=0.81; p<0.001) between logo awareness and use, and the meaning consumers attributed to the logo moderated this relationship (ß=0.53; p<0.01). Logo awareness was related to general use of food package information (ß=0.14; p<0.05) and attitude toward healthy food purchases (ß=0.15; p<0.05).Interpretation: Persons successfully limiting their fat intake purchase Health Check products, suggesting the program has utility in this regard. Program promotional efforts should aim to increase understanding of the Health Check logo's meaning in helping to make healthier purchase decisions. Promotional efforts surrounding the introduction of new nutrition labels in Canada are also expected to have a positive effect on the program.La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Characteristics of consumers using ‘better for you’ front-of-pack food labelling schemes – an example from the Australian Heart Foundation Tick

“…There are relatively few studies of ‘better for you’ labelling schemes. International studies include: a study of the Finnish Heart Symbol which reported high recognition of the symbol by women and highly educated groups, and a major increase in use, particularly in those with lower education levels ( 34 ) ; a study of the Canadian Health Check programme which reported positive associations between awareness of the programme, use of related products and use of other information on food packages, and negative associations between use of Health Check products and dietary fat intake ( 35 ) ; and a study of the actual use of the Dutch Choices logo, which also found greater recognition by women and those with higher education levels, but greater use in those with a medium (secondary schooling) level of education and those who were health-conscious and weight-conscious ( 13 ) . In Australia, Tick tracking studies have reported that a majority of Australians are aware of the Tick, use and trust the Tick, believe the Tick provides a healthier option ( 33 ) , and agree the Tick makes choosing healthier foods easier ( 36 ) .…”

Food products qualifying for and carrying front-of-pack symbols: a cross-sectional study examining a manufacturer led and a non-profit organization led program

“…The findings from the present study showed that significantly more products met the Health Check™ and Sensible Solutions™ nutrition rating systems’ definition of ‘healthy/healthier’ (as described in their respective nutrient criteria) than carried either of these FOP symbols in most food categories. Past research has found that, given two similar foods, one carrying the Health Check™ symbol and one without it, 80% of consumers would perceive the product with the symbol as ‘probably a better choice’ while only 4% of consumers would perceive there was ‘no real difference’ between the two products [ 18 ]. Similarly, researchers found that consumers exposed to a FOP symbol on a mousse cake perceived the cake as healthier than consumers who were given the same cake without a symbol (p = 0.004) [ 19 ].…”

“…With respect to the Health Check™ system, this study found only four subcategories where there was substantial agreement between the number of products qualifying for and carrying symbol. Considering consumers perceive products with the Health Check™ symbol as healthier than similar products without the symbol [ 18 ], our findings suggest that Health Check™ may be a useful guide to choosing healthier products for consumers in very few subcategories. Most subcategories within each of the major Health Check™ categories showed only poor agreement between products qualifying for and carrying this symbol.…”