scholarly journals ‘How many calories did I just eat?’ An experimental study examining the effect of changes to serving size information on nutrition labels

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
pp. 2959-2964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda C Jones ◽  
Lana Vanderlee ◽  
Christine M White ◽  
Erin P Hobin ◽  
Isabelle Bordes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Energy Estimation ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Size Information ◽  
Youth And Young Adults ◽  
Correct Energy ◽  
Reference Amount ◽  
Dual Column ◽  
Serving Size

AbstractObjectiveTo test modifications to nutrition label serving size information on understanding of energy (calorie) content among youth and young adults.DesignParticipants completed two online experiments. First, participants were randomly assigned to view a beverage nutrition label with a reference amount of per serving (250 ml), per container (473 ml) or a dual-column format with both reference amounts. Participants were then randomized to view a cracker nutrition label which specified a single serving in small font, a single serving in large font, or the number of servings per bag with single serving information below. In both experiments, participants estimated energy content. Logistic regression analysis modelled correct energy estimation. Finally, participants reported their preference for serving size display format.SettingCanada.SubjectsCanadian youth and young adults (n2008; aged 16–24 years).ResultsIn experiment 1, participants randomized to view the nutrition label with per container or dual column were more likely to correctly identify energy content than those using per serving information (P<0·01). For experiment 2, the serving size display format had no association with correct energy estimation. The majority of participants (61·9 %) preferred the serving size format that included servings per package.ConclusionsLabelling foods with nutrition information using a serving size reference amount for the entire container increased understanding of energy content. Consumers prefer nutrition labels that include more prominently featured serving size information. Additional modifications that further improve consumers’ accuracy should be examined. These results have direct implications for nutrition labelling policy.

scholarly journals Food and the consumer: could labelling be the answer?

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maeve A. Kerr ◽  
Mary T. McCann ◽  
M. Barbara E. Livingstone
Keyword(s):  
Food Packaging ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Size Information ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Point Of Purchase ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Serving Size

Extensive research into the impact of nutrition labelling across Europe has shown that many consumers can effectively use a nutrition label to rank a food for healthiness. The present paper considers observational and laboratory evidence which has examined the impact of nutrition labelling (on food packaging and at point of purchase) on dietary behaviour. In addition, the potential counterproductive effects of foods bearing ‘healthy’ nutrition labels are examined. The observational evidence provides a useful insight into the key characteristics of nutrition label use. Those most likely to engage with nutrition labels are more likely to have a diet related disease and/or be on a weight loss diet and have a good overall diet quality. Experimental evidence, while limited, suggests that serving size information may be overlooked by consumers. In fact, there may be a tendency among consumers to overeat foods that are perceived to be healthier. The findings from the present paper suggest that if nutrition labelling is to be considered a strategy to facilitate consumers in managing their energy intake, it must coincide with salient, consistent and simple serving size information on the front of food packages and at the point of purchase. There is a clear need for more experimental research using robust methodologies, to examine the impact of nutrition information on dietary intake. In the meantime, there should be greater attention given to portion size within national dietary guidance.

Serving sizes and energy values on the nutrition labels of regular and diet/light processed and ultra-processed dairy products sold in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (7) ◽  
pp. 1579-1593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Pereira Machado ◽  
Mariana Vieira dos Santos Kraemer ◽  
Nathalie Kliemann ◽  
Cláudia Flemming Colussi ◽  
Marcela Boro Veiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
Dairy Product ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Size Information ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Serving Sizes ◽  
Serving Size

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the serving sizes and energy values reported on the nutrition information of all processed and ultra-processed dairy products in their regular and diet/light versions available for sale in a large supermarket in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – A check was done for associations between the compliance of reported serving sizes, energy values per serving and energy density for regular foods and foods advertised at “diet/light” (with reduced fat and calories). Findings – The data included information from 451 dairy product labels. Most of the products had serving sizes smaller than the reference set by Brazilian law. A high variability of serving sizes was found for similar products. “Diet/light” foods tend to report serving sizes that are even smaller and more inadequate. Moreover, the energy density of these products was similar to that of the regular foods. Smaller serving sizes may be being presented on “diet/light” foods in order to report lower energy values and on similar foods to show non-existent differences in energy values. These results point to the importance of standardizing serving size information on food labels so that consumers have access to clear and accurate information about food products. Originality/value – This was the first census-type study to analyse the serving size information of dairy products at a supermarket of one of the ten largest supermarket chains in Brazil. This work extends the scope of current food labelling and contributes to the discussion about how nutrition labelling has been presented to Brazilian consumers and its possible consequences for food choices and the guarantee of consumer rights.

Seduced by the Label: How the Recommended Serving Size on Nutrition Labels Affects Food Sales

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ossama Elshiewy ◽  
Steffen Jahn ◽  
Yasemin Boztug
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Food Sales ◽  
Serving Size

scholarly journals Front-of-pack warning labels are preferred by parents with low education level in four Latin American countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Sofia Rincon Gallardo Patino ◽  
Ángela Carriedo ◽  
Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo ◽  
Jacqueline Araneda ◽  
Lorena Allemandi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Warning Labels ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Low Education ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Latin American Countries

Background: Overweight and obesity rates in Latin America are much higher than the global prevalence. Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition label systems are gaining momentum in Latin America and being implemented as a strategy to tackle obesity among children and adults. This study investigates the usage and preference of three FOP nutrition labels among Argentinian, Chilean, Costa Rican, and Mexican adult parents. Methods: From March to May 2016, a questionnaire was administered to 966 parents of elementary school aged children in Argentina (89), Chile (304), Costa Rica (258) and Mexico (315). Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA), traffic light (TL), and warning label FOP systems were compared and analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted using frequencies and proportions. Median differences tests, ANOVAs and logistic regression models were performed. A thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted using a deductive process. Results: Parents with low education levels and poor health conditions (i.e., overweight) preferred the FOP warning labels over the GDA and TL systems. The GDA FOP nutrition labels were preferred by parents with higher education levels. Overall, the TL system was preferred with no significant differences across countries. Conclusion: FOP warning labels are preferred by parents with vulnerable conditions (i.e., low education levels and overweight) across four Latin American countries. An easily understandable, readable and acceptable label may facilitate usage by vulnerable groups to make healthy food purchases. These results have important policy implications by providing evidence to government policymakers to enact legislation to implement or enhance existing FOP nutrition label policies as a viable strategy to reduce obesity risk.

scholarly journals An objective examination of consumer perception of nutrition information based on healthiness ratings and eye movements

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Jones ◽  
Miles Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Consumer Perception ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Light System ◽  
Food Standards

AbstractObjectivePrevious research on nutrition labelling has mainly used subjective measures. This study examines the effectiveness of two types of nutrition label using two objective measures: eye movements and healthiness ratings.DesignEye movements were recorded while participants made healthiness ratings for two types of nutrition label: standard and standard plus the Food Standards Agency's ‘traffic light’ concept.SettingUniversity of Derby, UK.SubjectsA total of 92 participants (mean age 31.5 years) were paid for their participation. None of the participants worked in the areas of food or nutrition.ResultsFor the standard nutrition label, participant eye movements lacked focus and their healthiness ratings lacked accuracy. The traffic light system helped to guide the attention of the consumer to the important nutrients and improved the accuracy of the healthiness ratings of nutrition labels.ConclusionsConsumers have a lack of knowledge regarding how to interpret nutrition information for standard labels. The traffic light concept helps to ameliorate this problem by indicating important nutrients to which to pay attention.

scholarly journals Consumer Understanding, Perception and Interpretation of Serving Size Information on Food Labels: A Scoping Review

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klazine Van der Horst ◽  
Tamara Bucher ◽  
Kerith Duncanson ◽  
Beatrice Murawski ◽  
David Labbe
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Food Literacy ◽  
Size Information ◽  
Size Selection ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Serving Sizes ◽  
Serving Size

The increase in packaged food and beverage portion sizes has been identified as a potential factor implicated in the rise of the prevalence of obesity. In this context, the objective of this systematic scoping review was to investigate how healthy adults perceive and interpret serving size information on food packages and how this influences product perception and consumption. Such knowledge is needed to improve food labelling understanding and guide consumers toward healthier portion size choices. A search of seven databases (2010 to April 2019) provided the records for title and abstract screening, with relevant articles assessed for eligibility in the full-text. Fourteen articles met the inclusion criteria, with relevant data extracted by one reviewer and checked for consistency by a second reviewer. Twelve studies were conducted in North America, where the government regulates serving size information. Several studies reported a poor understanding of serving size labelling. Indeed, consumers interpreted the labelled serving size as a recommended serving for dietary guidelines for healthy eating rather than a typical consumption unit, which is set by the manufacturer or regulated in some countries such as in the U.S. and Canada. Not all studies assessed consumption; however, larger labelled serving sizes resulted in larger self-selected portion sizes in three studies. However, another study performed on confectionary reported the opposite effect, with larger labelled serving sizes leading to reduced consumption. The limited number of included studies showed that labelled serving size affects portion size selection and consumption, and that any labelled serving size format changes may result in increased portion size selection, energy intake and thus contribute to the rise of the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Research to test cross-continentally labelled serving size format changes within experimental and natural settings (e.g., at home) are needed. In addition, tailored, comprehensive and serving-size-specific food literacy initiatives need to be evaluated to provide recommendations for effective serving size labelling. This is required to ensure the correct understanding of nutritional content, as well as informing food choices and consumption, for both core foods and discretionary foods.

scholarly journals Factors affecting the intention of nutrition label use among selected adults in the Philippines

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Sy ◽  
E Bullecer
Keyword(s):  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Nutrition Labeling ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Label Use

Abstract Background Having an unhealthy diet is a risk-factor in the development of non-communicable diseases. Through the provision of sufficient nutrition information, nutrition labeling is one of the recommendations to increase awareness and promote healthy diets. However, there is still limited research in the Philippines that can be utilized in improving nutrition label use. With the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the study model, this study aimed to determine attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control on nutrition label, and if the three constructs are associated with the intention of nutrition label use among adults in selected communities. Methods This analytic cross-sectional study conducted face-to-face interview using a developed questionnaire, among 440 adults (18 to 59 years old) in the top four communities with highest population in Los Baňos, Laguna, selected through a two-stage sampling design. Data were encoded using MS Excel and analyzed using STATA. Results The prevalence of positive attitude was 89.32% (95% CI: 86.06 - 91.89) and 96.82% (95% CI: 94.69 - 98.11) had high degree of subjective norms. With regards to perceived behavioral control, 61.36% (95% CI: 56.71 - 65.82) found nutrition labels as easy to understand, and 94.09% (95% CI: 91.45 - 95.95) had high intention of using it. Then, using multiple logistic regression, only having a perceived behavioral control on nutrition label of being easy to understand (OR 3.33; 95% CI: 1.47-7.54) was found to be associated with having high intention of nutrition label use. Conclusions Information and education on nutrition labels should be strengthened to improve the perceived understanding of the participants which showed significant association with having high intention of nutrition label use. Nonetheless, promotions are important to maintain positive attitude and subjective norms toward nutrition label use. The study also generated data that can serve as reference for future studies. Key messages Among the three constructs of TPB, only having perceived behavioral control on nutrition label of being easy to understand was found to be associated with having high intention of nutrition label use. Improving the nutrition label understanding of the study participants is significant in having high intention of nutrition label use.

scholarly journals Sex-Based Differences in the Association between Nutrition Label Awareness and the Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
Soo Jin Kwon ◽  
Yoonjung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Relationship

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic disease with multifactorial causation. Although its association with diet has been demonstrated, it remains unclear whether the prevalence of atopic dermatitis among adults is associated with nutrition label awareness. Nutrition label awareness indicates knowledge of the existence of nutrition labels on processed food, and the use of them for food selection. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the relationship between nutrition label awareness and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis among men and women using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013–2015), including a nationally representative sample of 13,505 Korean adults (aged > 19 years). The relationship between the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and nutrition label awareness was evaluated using t-tests, χ2 tests and multivariate adjusted logistic regression analysis. Although univariate analysis showed that atopic dermatitis was associated with nutrition label awareness in both men and women, after adjustment for covariates, there was no significant association among men. The significant association between the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and nutrition label awareness among women reveals a sex-based difference in this relationship in adults, and atopic dermatitis may be managed and prevented among women by targeted education regarding nutrition labels and diet.

scholarly journals Analysis of Factors Influencing Food Nutritional Labels Use in Nanjing, China

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1796
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Liangliang Zhai ◽  
Maurice Osewe ◽  
Aijun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Nutrition Label ◽  
Nutrition Labels ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Food Nutrition ◽  
Label Use

A correct use of food nutrition la bels benefits consumers in pursuing balanced diets. As a result, we conducted interviews in Nanjing, China and randomly sampled 427 respondents. Further, we used both descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression to assess their perception of food nutrition label use. The results indicated that the current situation is not ideal in Nanjing. Only 7.26% of respondents use labeling consistently. Data on purchasing experience, comprehension, nutritional value, work sector, chronic disease, diet awareness, nutritional knowledge, and age were statistically significant. Conversely, taste and primary shopper categories negatively influenced food nutrition label use. In light of the above results, we propose policy recommendations to promote consumers’ use of food nutrition labels. These are also beneficial in improving diet and relieving chronic diseases.

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