Mind the gap: How the numerical precision of exercise-data-based food labels can nudge healthier food choices

2022 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 354-367
Author(s):  
Li Zhou ◽  
Guowei Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Food Choices ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Numerical Precision

scholarly journals Nutritional Quality of Pasta Sold on the Italian Market: The Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Marika Dello Russo ◽  
Carmela Spagnuolo ◽  
Stefania Moccia ◽  
Donato Angelino ◽  
Nicoletta Pellegrini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Content ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Italian Market ◽  
Lower Protein ◽  
Fresh Pasta

Pasta represents a staple food in many populations and, in recent years, an increasing number of pasta items has been placed on the market to satisfy needs and trends. The aims of this work were: (i) to investigate the nutritional composition of the different types of pasta currently sold in Italy by collecting the nutrition facts on their packaging; (ii) to compare energy, nutrient and salt content per 100 g and serving in fresh and dried pasta; (iii) to compare the nutrition declaration in pairs of products with and without different declarations (i.e., gluten free (GF), organic, and nutrition claims (NC)). A total of 756 items, made available by 13 retailers present on the Italian market, were included in the analysis. Data showed a wide difference between dried and fresh pasta, with high inter-type variability. A negligible amount of salt was observed in all types of pasta, except for stuffed products, which had a median high quantity of salt (>1 g/100 g and ~1.5 g/serving). Organic pasta had higher fibre and lower protein contents compared to conventional pasta. GF products were higher in carbohydrate and fat but lower in fibre and protein than not-GF products, while only a higher fibre content was found in pasta with NC compared to products not boasting claims. Overall, the results show high variability in terms of nutrition composition among the pasta items currently on the market, supporting the importance of reading and understanding food labels for making informed food choices.

scholarly journals Perbedaan Pemilihan Makanan dan Faktor yang Berkaitan pada Remaja Putri di SMA Daerah Kota dan Kabupaten

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Ovi Eka Faradila ◽  
Mury Kuswari ◽  
Nazhif Gifari
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Actual Body ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge

<em>This study was aimed to analyze differences in food selection and factors related to adolescent girls in the urban and rural high schools. The sampling technique used is the sample size difference of 2 proportions. Data was collected by giving questionnaires to respondents which included food choices and its related factors such as social media, body image, nutritional knowledge, food labels, and peers. Body weight and height used to measure the anthropometric data. The statistical test used in this research was the t-test. There were no differences in food choices, use of social media, perception of actual body shape, perception of desired body shape, and perception of ideal body shape in urban and rural (p&gt; 0,05). There were differences in actual body shape with BMI, nutritional knowledge, understanding food labels , and peer influence in rural and urban (p &lt;0,05). Found differences in perceptions of actual body shape with BMI, nutritional knowledge, understanding food labels, and peer influence in urban and rural areas. There were no differences in food choices, but there were differences in factors related.</em>

scholarly journals Serving size on nutrition labeling for processed foods sold in Brazil: Relationship to energy value

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 741-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie KLIEMANN ◽  
Marcela Boro VEIROS ◽  
David Alejandro GONZÁLEZ-CHICA ◽  
Rossana Pacheco da Costa PROENÇA
Keyword(s):  
Food Choices ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Nutrition Labeling ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Energy Value ◽  
Label Information ◽  
Serving Sizes ◽  
Serving Size

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to analyze serving sizes declared on food labels with respect to their conformity to Brazilian law, variability among similar foods, and relationship to energy values. Methods: Food label information from 24 groups of processed foods was collected in one supermarket in southern Brazil. Declared serving sizes were classified into five groups according to their level of compliance with those recommended by law: <70% and >130% inadequate and 70-99%, 100% and 101-130% adequate. Descriptive analyses, Spearman correlations, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied. Results: A total of 1,953 food products were analyzed, of which 72% reported serving sizes exactly equal to those recommended, and 14% fell within the acceptable 60% range established by law. Even though most foods complied with the law, there was a variation in declared serving sizes among similar foods, with the largest ranges observed for hamburger and meatballs (364 g). In addition, declared serving sizes were significantly and positively correlated to energy value in most food groups, revealing that smaller serving sizes may be used to report lower energy value. Conclusion: The 60% acceptable serving size range established by law may lead to a lack of serving size standardization and significant variability in declared energy values on labels. This can potentially make labels confusing when comparing similar products and thus affect food choices. It is necessary to revise Brazilian law so that serving sizes are standardized among similar foods in order to facilitate healthy food choices.

scholarly journals Perception of healthy and unhealthy food among Chinese adolescents

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Chan ◽  
Tommy Tse ◽  
Daisy Tam ◽  
Anqi Huang
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Health Consciousness ◽  
Second Tier ◽  
Group Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore snacking behavior and perspectives on healthy and unhealthy food choices among adolescents in Mainland China. Design/methodology/approach Four focus-group interviews were conducted. Altogether 24 participants were recruited in Changsha, a second-tier city in China, through a convenience sampling process. They were asked to report their snacking behaviors, identify whether certain snacks are healthy or unhealthy and elaborate on factors affecting food choices. Findings Snacking was prevalent among the participants. The most frequently consumed snacks included fruit, milk and instant noodles. Participants’ evaluations for the healthiness of foods were based on the actual nutritional values of those foods, the effects on growth and body weight and word-of-mouth. Choice of snack was driven mainly by taste, image, convenience and health consciousness. Research limitations/implications The finding was based on a non-probability sample. The paper also did not explore the contexts where snacks were consumed. Practical implications Parents can make healthy snacks more accessible at home and at schools. Educators can teach adolescents how to read food labels. Schools can increase the availability of healthy snacks on campus. Social marketers can promote healthy snacks by associating them with fun and high taste. Originality/value This is the first paper on snacking behaviors among adolescents conducted in a second-tier city in China using focus-group methodology.

South African adult metropolitan consumers' opinions and use of health information on food labels

2013 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena J.C. Bosman ◽  
Daleen Van der Merwe ◽  
Susanna M. Ellis ◽  
Johann C. Jerling ◽  
Jane Badham
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
South African ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Health Information Sources

Purpose – The globally recognised link between diet and health needs to be communicated to consumers to facilitate healthy food choices. Thus, this paper aims to determine South African (SA) metropolitan consumers' opinions and beliefs about the food-health link, as well as their opinions and use of health information on food labels. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional study using fieldworker-administered questionnaires was conducted. Using stratified randomised sampling, 1,997 respondents were recruited. The data were weighted to represent the metropolitan SA adult population (n=10,695,000). Findings – Practically significantly more respondents agreed than disagreed there is a food-health link and that health messages on food labels are supported by scientific research. Respondents' opinions on health information on food labels were mostly positive, as confirmed by the average opinions for the different ethnic groups. The results identified a lack of interest, time and price concerns, and habitual purchasing as reasons for not reading food labels. Health-concerned respondents also considered labels as important health information sources. Practical implications – Consumer education on the food-health link and the use of health information on food labels should address the deficiencies identified through the opinions and use of food labels by these respondents. Originality/value – Representative results of SA metropolitan consumers in this study are significant since third world countries are burdened by various diseases and former studies only used limited-sized non-probability samples which could not be generalised.

scholarly journals Serving Size and Nutrition Labelling: Implications for Nutrition Information and Nutrition Claims on Packaged Foods

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Kliemann ◽  
Mariana Kraemer ◽  
Tailane Scapin ◽  
Vanessa Rodrigues ◽  
Ana Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Choices ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Food Labelling ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Serving Sizes ◽  
Serving Size

The presentation of nutrition information on a serving size basis is a strategy that has been adopted by several countries to promote healthy eating. Variation in serving size, however, can alter the nutritional values reported on food labels and compromise the food choices made by the population. This narrative review aimed to discuss (1) current nutrition labelling legislation regarding serving size and (2) the implications of declared serving size for nutrition information available on packaged foods. Most countries with mandatory food labelling require that serving size be presented on food labels, but variation in this information is generally allowed. Studies have reported a lack of standardisation among serving sizes of similar products which may compromise the usability of nutrition information. Moreover, studies indicate that food companies may be varying serving sizes as a marketing strategy to stimulate sales by reporting lower values of certain nutrients or lower energy values on nutrition information labels. There is a need to define the best format for presenting serving size on food labels in order to provide clear and easily comprehensible nutrition information to the consumer.

scholarly journals GMO Food Labels Do Not Affect College Student Food Selection, Despite Negative Attitudes towards GMOs

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1761
Author(s):  
Katrina Oselinsky ◽  
Ashlie Johnson ◽  
Pamela Lundeberg ◽  
Abby Johnson Holm ◽  
Megan Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Phase Study ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Study Participants

US Public Law 114–216 dictates that food producers in the United States of America will be required to label foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) starting in 2022; however, there is little empirical evidence demonstrating how U.S. consumers would use food labels that indicate the presence or absence of GMOs. The aim of this two-phase study was to determine how attitudes towards GMOs relate to food choices and how labels indicating the presence or absence of GMOs differentially impact choices among college students—the age group which values transparent food labeling more than any other. Participants (n = 434) made yes/no choices for each of 64 foods. In both phases of the study, participants were randomly assigned to seeing GMO Free labels, contains GMOs labels, or no GMO labels. Across the two phases, 85% of participants reported believing that GMOs were at least somewhat dangerous to health (42% believed GMOs to be dangerous), yet in both studies, although eye-tracking data verified that participants attended to the GMO labels, these labels did not significantly affect food choices. Although college consumers may believe GMOs to be dangerous, their food choices do not reflect this belief.

scholarly journals Can Food Labels Improve the Food Systems in the World?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Nsamba ◽  
Elezebeth Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Nutrition Transition ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Food Labelling ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
The World ◽  
Consumer Organisations ◽  
Diabetes And Obesity

Food systems across the world have changed from wholesome foods to fast and ultra-refined foods. This nutrition transition has contributed immensely to the rapidly increasing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and obesity across the globe. There is a growing need to support consumers in making healthier food choices through information, education and communication, and by targeting the market environment through food labelling. Food labels include ingredients, amounts, allergens, name of manufacturer, country of origin, date of manufacture and expiry. This article aims to raise awareness of the effectiveness of food labelling to improve the food system and, in return, combat the rising NCDs. Nutrition labelling has shown positive results in shaping consumer food choices and improving the quality of food production by food manufacturers. Unfortunately, there is a tendency for food companies to market false information about food, marketing an item to consumers as a healthy food option, when in fact, it is not.Despite increasing calls for mandatory food labelling as a policy strategy to halt the rising prevalence of NCDs, governments require clear evidence supporting the effectiveness of food labelling in improving food choices to make informed decisions. Mandatory labelling would require a strong commitment from all stakeholders, including the food industry, governments, consumer organisations and the trade industry.

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