Systematic review of the impact of nutrition claims related to fat, sugar and energy content on food choices and energy intake

Abstract

Background As part of efforts to address high levels of overweight and obesity, the provision of nutrition information (e.g., through nutrition labels and nutrition claims) on food packages has increasingly become an important policy option. This study aimed to assess the influence of nutrition claims relating to fat, sugar, and energy content on product packaging on several aspects of food choices to understand how they contribute to the prevention of overweight and obesity. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted using the online databases EBSCOhost Global Health, EBSCOhost Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PsycINFO and Embase. Studies were included if they measured the influence of nutrition claims relating to fat, sugar, and energy content on outcomes related to body weight, and were published between January 2003 and April 2018. Results Eleven studies were included in the review. Results showed that nutrition claims can influence the knowledge of consumers with respect to perceived healthfulness of products, as well as expected and experienced tastiness of food products – making food products with nutrition claims seem healthier and less tasty. Nutrition claims can make the appropriate portion size appear to be larger and lead to an underestimation of the energy content of food products. Nutrition claims can also influence food purchase intentions, moderated by the perceived healthfulness of the relevant food products and the health consciousness of individuals. Nutrition claims were also found to have an impact on food purchases, to influence ‘consumption guilt’ (i.e., feeling of guilt associated with eating), and to increase consumption, moderated by the weight status of individuals. These influences were shown to vary depending on the type of claim and food carrying the claim. Conclusions There is evidence that, while nutrition claims may lead some consumers to improve their nutrition knowledge and select healthier options, it may also lead consumers to increase food consumption and overall energy intake. This may run counter to efforts to address overweight and obesity.

Nutrition Claims Frequency and Compliance in a Food Sample of the Spanish Market: The BADALI Study

“…In fact, some authors talk about a ‘health halo’ effect, “whereby an individual generalises from a nutrition or health claim that a product is healthier or has more favourable attributes than it actually does” [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Some reviews suggest that nutrition claims (NCs) can actually influence food choices [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Recent systematic reviews indicate that products bearing a NC have more probabilities to be chosen and that they can alter adults’ perceptions concerning the content of the products [ 9 , 12 ].…”

“…Recent systematic reviews indicate that products bearing a NC have more probabilities to be chosen and that they can alter adults’ perceptions concerning the content of the products [ 9 , 12 ]. Another systematic review concluded that NCs related to fat, sugar and energy content can influence the perceived healthfulness of products, making them seem healthier than they are, and thus influencing food purchase intentions [ 10 ]. Some factors related to customers may also be important to the effect of NCs.…”

“…Some factors related to customers may also be important to the effect of NCs. Nutrition knowledge, motivation to adopt a healthy diet, health consciousness and consumers’ difficulty to understand claims may modulate the effect of NCs [ 9 , 10 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. As a summary of all the potential factors influencing the effect of NCs on food choices, Oostenbach proposed a conceptual model in 2019 [ 10 ].…”

Prevalence and Credibility of Nutrition and Health Claims: Policy Implications from a Case Study of Mongolian Food Labels

“…The potential negative impact of claims on food choices and consumption [ 15 , 30 ] can be particularly significant in Mongolia. The results of this study highlight the pervasiveness of poorly regulated food claim practices.…”

“…Food labelling policy implementation, including for nutrition and health claims, has not been well studied in developing countries. Most evidence on the use of claims and their effects on diets are from developed countries [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The study aimed to determine the use of nutrition and health claims on packaged foods sold in Mongolia and examine the credibility of these claims.…”