Toward a differentiated understanding of the effect of Nutri‐Score nutrition labeling on healthier food choices

Gassler, Birgit; Faesel, Claudia K.; Moeser, Anke

doi:10.1002/agr.21762

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(110 reference statements)

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“…Previous studies have shown that displaying the Nutri-Score on product packaging allows (1) better knowledge of the global nutritional quality of foods and healthier food choices [ 10 – 15 ] and (2) to limit the potential halo effects on health of nutritional claims about added sugars promoted by companies on packaging (for example, 30% less sugar) which may make products appear healthier than they really are [ 27 ]. The present study extends these results by showing the existence of effects of the Nutri-Score on cognitive judgments related to perceptions of nutritional quality and more or less favorable health-promoting effects of food products, in the context of advertising.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies have shown that front-of-pack labeling (FoPL) and, in particular, the Nutri-Score can help consumers identify the nutritional quality of products [ 10 , 11 ]. It then influences food choices by directing them towards healthier products [ 12 – 15 ]. Thus, as the Nutri-Score can effectively and quickly inform about the overall nutritional quality of foods, displaying it in advertising messages could reduce the deleterious effects of advertising for HFSS products.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A randomized controlled trial to test the effects of displaying the Nutri-Score in food advertising on consumer perceptions and intentions to purchase and consume

Courbet,

Jacquemier,

Hercberg

et al. 2024

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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Background Some research shows that advertising for high-fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) products is contributing to a shift in consumer preferences toward products of poor nutritional quality, leading to unhealthy nutritional intakes that increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases. A strategy of displaying simple and understandable nutritional information (like the front-of-pack nutrition label Nutri-Score) in food messages could be an aid to help guide consumers’ choice towards healthier products. Methods A randomized controlled experiment was conducted on 27,085 participants randomly assigned to two experimental conditions or a control condition. In both experimental conditions (independent variable: advertising messages with vs. without the Nutri-Score), participants were exposed to advertisements for diversified food products with contrasting nutritional quality and belonging to nine different food categories. Participants were then asked questions about their perception, affective evaluation, and intentions to purchase and consume the products. In the control condition, they were not exposed to the advertisements. Results Overall, interaction effects between the two variables (1) the messages with vs. without the Nutri-Score and (2) the nutritional quality of products, were significant for all dependent variables, with effect sizes between large and medium. Overall, the better the products’ nutritional quality, the more positive their perceptions, affective evaluations, and intentions to buy and consume them. When the Nutri-score was displayed in advertising messages (vs. when it was not), perceptions, affective evaluation, and behavioral intentions: (1) became more positive for products of good nutritional quality (Nutri-score A and B), (2) became more negative for products of poor nutritional quality (Nutri-score D and E), (3) changed little or not at all for products of intermediate nutritional quality (Nutri-Score C). Conclusions This research is the first in the literature to demonstrate that displaying the Nutri-Score in advertising messages assists consumers in directing their choices towards healthier foods. Regulations mandating the display of the Nutri-Score in food advertising could be an effective public health measure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A randomized controlled trial to test the effects of displaying the Nutri-Score in food advertising on consumer perceptions and intentions to purchase and consume

Courbet,

Jacquemier,

Hercberg

et al. 2024

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study, for example, in the dairy products group, 15.3% of foods were classified with Nutri-Score A and NOVA 4, and only 1.1% were classified with Nutri-Score A and NOVA 1. Generally, food products rated as Nutri-Score A or B are perceived as healthier, increasing purchase intentions [ 45 , 46 ]. Thus, regardless of other individual determinants, if information on other dimensions of food is not provided, consumers may base their food choices mainly on the nutritional quality of food.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, food manufacturers tend to reformulate their products to attain a better Nutri-Score by reducing the sugar, fat, and salt content or increasing the amount of fibre to capture consumers, regardless of the degree and extent of processing this reformulation requires [ 46 ]. A study carried out in France by Union Fédéral des Consommateurs (UFC-Que Choisir) showed that between 2015 and 2022, the nutritional quality improved in three of the seven food groups analyzed and in which Nutri-Score is more frequently displayed, namely in cereal bars, special breads and rusk, and breakfast cereals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-Classification Analysis of Food Products Based on Nutritional Quality and Degree of Processing

Abreu

Martins

2023

Nutrients

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This study aims to compare the classification of foods available in the Portuguese market using Nutri-Score and NOVA classifications and to analyse their ability to discriminate the fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content of foods. A sample of 2682 food products was collected. The nutritional quality of foods was established using the Nutri-Score, classifying them into five categories (from A to E). The NOVA classification was used to classify foods according to the degree of food processing into unprocessed/minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods (UPF). The nutritional content of food products was classified using a Multiple Traffic Light label system. It was observed that 73.7% of UPF were classified as Nutri-Score C, D, and E, 10.1% as Nutri-Score A, and 16.2% as Nutri-Score B. Nutri-Score was positively correlated with NOVA classification (ρ = 0.140, p < 0.001) and with the Multiple Traffic Lights system (ρTotal Fat = 0.572, ρSaturated Fat = 0.668, ρSugar = 0.215, ρSalt = 0.321, p < 0.001). NOVA classification negatively correlated with the Multiple Traffic Lights system for total fat (ρ = −0.064, p < 0.001). Our findings indicate the presence of many UPFs in all Nutri-Score categories. Since food processing and nutritional quality are complementary, both should be considered in labelling.

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“…48,80,81,[87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105] advertising and prevention of childhood obesity in Spain: Analysis of the nutritional value of the products and discursive strategies used in the ads most viewed by children from 2016 to 2018[70] Soft drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages advertising in Spain: Correlation between nutritional values and advertising discursive strategies[65] Breakfast food advertising and prevention of obesity: Analysis of the nutritional value of the products and discursive strategies used in the breakfast ads from 2015…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Little Bird Told Me… Nutri-Score Panoramas from a Flight over Europe, Connecting Science and Society

Stiletto,

Cei,

Trestini

2023

Nutrients

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Within the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission ask for a unified Front Of Pack nutritional label for food to be used at the European level. The scientific debate identified the Nutri-Score (NS) as the most promising candidate, but within the political discussion, some Member States brought to attention several issues related to its introduction. This misalignment led to a postponement of the final decision. With the aim to shed some light on the current stances and contribute to the forthcoming debate, the objective of the present work is to understand to what extent scientific research addresses the issues raised by the general public. We applied a structural topic model to tweets from four European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and to abstracts of scientific papers, all dealing with the NS topic. Different aspects of the NS debate are discussed in different countries, but scientific research, while addressing some of them (e.g., the comparison between NS and other labels), disregards others (e.g., relations between NS and traditional products). It is advisable, therefore, to widen the scope of NS research to properly address the concerns of European society and to provide policymakers with robust evidence to support their decisions.

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Toward a differentiated understanding of the effect of Nutri‐Score nutrition labeling on healthier food choices

Cited by 12 publications

References 45 publications

A randomized controlled trial to test the effects of displaying the Nutri-Score in food advertising on consumer perceptions and intentions to purchase and consume

A randomized controlled trial to test the effects of displaying the Nutri-Score in food advertising on consumer perceptions and intentions to purchase and consume

Cross-Classification Analysis of Food Products Based on Nutritional Quality and Degree of Processing

A Little Bird Told Me… Nutri-Score Panoramas from a Flight over Europe, Connecting Science and Society

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