The impact of image-size manipulation and sugar content on children's cereal consumption

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that portion sizes and food energy-density influence children's eating behavior. However, the potential effects of front-of-pack image-sizes of serving suggestions and sugar content have not been tested. Using a mixed experimental design among young children, this study examines the effects of image-size manipulation and sugar content on cereal and milk consumption. Children poured and consumed significantly more cereal and drank significantly more milk when exposed to a larger sized image of serving suggestion as compared to a smaller image-size. Sugar content showed no main effects. Nevertheless, cereal consumption only differed significantly between small and large image-sizes when sugar content was low. An advantage of this study was the mundane setting in which the data were collected: a school's dining room instead of an artificial lab. Future studies should include a control condition, with children eating by themselves to reflect an even more natural context.

The influence the image of the product shown on food packaging labels has on product perception during tasting: Effects and gender differences

“…Rebollar et al proved that the serving suggestion displayed on the package affects expectations and willingness to buy and that the consumer perceives the main product to have the qualities based on the accompaniments shown in the serving suggestion. Madzharov and Block and Neyens, Aerts and Smits demonstrated that certain image characteristics even influence how much of the product is consumed. These studies show that consumption may be higher when the number of product units displayed on the image is higher and when the image occupies a larger portion of the label .…”

“…Madzharov and Block and Neyens, Aerts and Smits demonstrated that certain image characteristics even influence how much of the product is consumed. These studies show that consumption may be higher when the number of product units displayed on the image is higher and when the image occupies a larger portion of the label . In a more recent paper, Rebollar et al showed that the way in which crisps are depicted in the image on the package has an effect on consumer sensory expectations, which is reflected in their willingness to buy.…”

“…These studies show that consumption may be higher when the number of product units displayed on the image is higher 30 and when the image occupies a larger portion of the label. 31 In a more recent paper, Rebollar et al 32 showed that the way in which crisps are depicted in the image on the package has an effect on consumer sensory expectations, which is reflected in their willingness to buy. The depiction of ready-to-eat crisps, when compared with a composition in which a raw potato is depicted, increased expectations of salty and crunchy attributes and predisposition to buy.…”

The influence of front‐of‐pack portion size images on children's serving and intake of cereal

“…Neyens et al found a large effect size of 0.9 using a within‐subjects design. To be conservative, the current study was powered for a medium‐large effect size (d = 0.6, 95% power, P < .05) and with a between‐subjects design, power analyses (G*Power software v3.1) showed that a sample size of 39 was needed.…”

“…An experimental study by Neyens, Aerts, & Smits sought to explore this phenomenon by manipulating the images of food presented on a novel children's cereal. The size of the image used on the front‐of‐pack was adjusted, but the portion size shown within the images was held constant.…”