Assessing attentional prioritization of front-of-pack nutrition labels using change detection

Becker, Mark W.; Sundar, Raghav Prashant; Bello, Nora M.; Alzahabi, Reem; Weatherspoon, Lorraine; Bix, Laura

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2015.11.014

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Interpretive FoPLs associated with the highest increase in objective understanding were the Nutri-Score and the MTL, which were the only two colour-coded labels among the five FoPLs tested. It has been demonstrated that the use of colours is key regarding FoPL salience, as colours tend to capture attention [ 27 , 31 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Moreover, the use of the well-known polychromatic green-red scale might be an important feature of FoPL colour coding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels: An International Comparative Experimental Study across 12 Countries

et al. 2018

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Front-of-Package labels (FoPLs) are efficient tools for increasing consumers’ awareness of foods’ nutritional quality and encouraging healthier choices. A label’s design is likely to influence its effectiveness; however, few studies have compared the ability of different FoPLs to facilitate a consumer understanding of foods’ nutritional quality, especially across sociocultural contexts. This study aimed to assess consumers’ ability to understand five FoPLs [Health Star Rating system (HSR), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL), Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes (RIs), and Warning symbol] in 12 different countries. In 2018, approximately 1000 participants per country were recruited and asked to rank three sets of label-free products (one set of three pizzas, one set of three cakes, and one set of three breakfast cereals) according to their nutritional quality, via an online survey. Participants were subsequently randomised to one of five FoPL conditions and were again asked to rank the same sets of products, this time with a FoPL displayed on pack. Changes in a participants’ ability to correctly rank products across the two tasks were assessed by FoPL using ordinal logistic regression. In all 12 countries and for all three food categories, the Nutri-Score performed best, followed by the MTL, HSR, Warning symbol, and RIs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels: An International Comparative Experimental Study across 12 Countries

et al. 2018

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“…Indeed, consumers tend to agree on the fact that the back-ofpack nutritional declaration is difficult to understand [78,79], and the demand for simplified front-of-pack labels [13] is increasing as evidenced by the current upward trend in implementation of FoPLs around the world [80]. Results from studies presenting various FoPL models to consumers suggest that color-coded labels would be preferred by consumers [50,72,81], and summary systems more specifically by more disadvantaged groups [82].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compared to other front-of-pack nutrition labels, the Nutri-Score emerged as the most efficient to inform Swiss consumers on the nutritional quality of food products

et al. 2020

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Background Switzerland, like other high-income countries, is facing a major public health challenge with the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Discussions are currently ongoing in Switzerland regarding the implementation of a Front-of-Pack nutrition label (FoPL) as a public health measure to guide consumers towards healthier food choices, and the Nutri-Score represents an alternative supported by multiple actors. To date, no studies have investigated the performance of the Nutri-Score among Swiss consumers. This study aimed to compare the response of Swiss consumers to five FoPLs (Health Star Rating system, Multiple Traffic Lights, Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes and Warning symbol) in terms of perception and understanding of these labels and effects on food choices. Methods In 2019, 1,088 Swiss consumers were recruited and asked to select one product from among a set of three foods with different nutritional profiles and then classify the products within the sets according to their nutritional quality. Tasks were performed in situations without a label and then with one of the five FoPLs-depending on the group in which they were randomized-on the pack. Finally, participants were questioned on their perceptions regarding the label to which they were exposed. Results All FoPLs were favorably perceived, with marginal differences between FoPLs. The Nutri-Score demonstrated the highest percentage of improvement in food choices and the highest overall performance in helping consumers rank the products according to their nutritional quality.

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“…Research has identified several characteristics that increase the effectiveness of FOP systems, including the use of recognizable symbols that are easy to understand [ 28 ]. The use of color has also been shown to increase attention to FOP labels [ 29 , 30 ] and may help consumers to make healthier choices [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Simple directional text, such as ‘high in (nutrient)’ is supported by consumers and has been shown to increase understanding of the healthfulness of products [ 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Front-of-Package Label Design on Consumer Understanding of Nutrient Amounts

et al. 2018

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A between-groups experiment examined the salience of front-of-package (FOP) symbols. Adults from Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK completed an online survey (n = 11,617). Respondents were randomized to view cereal boxes displaying one of 11 FOP label conditions for ‘high’ levels of sugar and saturated fat: control (no FOP symbol), red circle, red ‘stop sign’, magnifying glass, magnifying glass + exclamation mark, and ‘caution’ triangle + exclamation mark, plus each of these five conditions accompanied by a ‘high in’ text descriptor. Participants identified the amount of saturated fat and sugar in the product (‘low’/’moderate’/’high’). Participants were more likely to correctly identify the product as ‘high’ in saturated fat or sugar when shown the stop sign, triangle + exclamation mark, red circle, or magnifying glass + exclamation mark symbols incorporating ‘high in’ text (p < 0.01). The magnifying glass was the least effective symbol. The stop sign (37.7%) and triangle + exclamation mark (22.0%) were most frequently selected as the best symbol for indicating high nutrient amounts. Overall, FOP labels with ‘high in’ descriptions, red color and intuitive ‘warning’ symbols (e.g., stop signs, exclamation marks, ‘caution’ triangles) were more effective at communicating high levels of nutrients of public health concern in a time-limited environment.

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Assessing attentional prioritization of front-of-pack nutrition labels using change detection

Cited by 20 publications

References 50 publications

Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels: An International Comparative Experimental Study across 12 Countries

Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels: An International Comparative Experimental Study across 12 Countries

Compared to other front-of-pack nutrition labels, the Nutri-Score emerged as the most efficient to inform Swiss consumers on the nutritional quality of food products

The Impact of Front-of-Package Label Design on Consumer Understanding of Nutrient Amounts

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