The UK Traffic Light nutrition label on pre-packaged processed foods. Credit: Sonia Pombo-Rodrigues, CC BY 4.0
Brand-new analysis of 118 research studies performed over 30 years might assist improve, enhance food labeling policies.
A new analysis has actually integrated findings from 134 research studies of the impact of color-coded nutrition labels and cautions found on the front of some food product packaging, indicating that these labels do undoubtedly appear to motivate more healthful purchases. Jing Song of Queen Mary University of London, UK, and coworkers provide these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.
Some countries have actually introduced necessary front-of-package labeling in hope of enhancing individualss diet plans and decreasing the burden of illness associated with bad diets. These labels might utilize color coding to suggest nutrition, or they might caution customers about unhealthful features of items. Research studies on the effect of such labeling have actually produced mixed evidence.
Some countries have presented obligatory front-of-package labeling in hope of enhancing individualss diets and lowering the burden of diseases associated with poor diet plans. These labels may utilize color coding to indicate nutrition, or they might alert customers about unhealthful functions of products. Research studies on the effect of such labeling have produced blended proof.
To help clarify the impact of front-of-package nutrition labels, Song and coworkers evaluated information from 134 peer-reviewed research studies published in between January 1990 and May 2021. They applied an analytical technique known as network meta-analysis in order to integrate the results of the studies and evaluate the impact of 4 different labeling systems– two that use color-coding and two that utilize warnings.
This meta-analysis showed that all 4 labeling systems seemed advantageous in encouraging consumers to buy more nutritionally beneficial products. Assessment of specific dietary qualities found that labeling pushed consumers towards foods and beverages with lower levels of energy, salt, fat, and hydrogenated fat.
The analysis likewise highlighted mental systems that might underlie the different strengths of various labels, due to their influence on customers understanding of nutrition information and resulting changes in mindsets towards unhealthy or healthful foods. Color-coded labels appeared to be more advantageous in promoting more healthy purchases, and cautioning labels were more reliable in discouraging unhealthy purchases.
These findings could help guide and fine-tune policies on front-of-package labeling to improve public health. On the other hand, future research could build on this research study by dealing with related ideas, such as the effect of labeling on reformulation of items by the food market or more long-lasting benefits of labeling on buying behavior.
” This research study found that color-coded labels and warning labels are all able to direct customers towards more healthy purchase behavior,” the researchers include. “Color-coded labels can promote the purchase of more healthy products, while alerting labels discourage the purchase of less healthful items.
Recommendation: “Impact of color-coded and alerting nutrition labelling plans: A systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis” by Song J, Brown MK, Tan M, MacGregor GA, Webster J, Campbell NRC, et al., 5 October 2021, PLoS Medicine.DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pmed.1003765.