Can front-of-pack labels influence portion size judgements for unhealthy foods

Bibliographic Data

ID15090172
AuthorsZenobia Talati (0000-0002-6577-4969, Curtin University, corresponding author), Simone Pettigrew (0000-0003-3921-1174, Curtin University), Bridget Kelly (0000-0003-3111-6279, University of Wollongong), Kylie Ball (0000-0003-2893-8415, Deakin University), Bruce Neal (0000-0002-0490-7465, Imperial College London), Hannah Dixon (0000-0002-5365-9605, Cancer Council Victoria), Helen Dixon (0000-0002-2850-2542), Trevor Shilton (0000-0002-8978-3261, National Heart Foundation of Australia), Caroline Miller (0000-0003-2865-2126, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)
Year2018
Volume21
Issue15
Pages2776-2781
Publication date2018-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980018001702
PMID30017011
OpenAlexW2884834460
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited35

Objective By clearly conveying the healthiness of a food, front-of-pack (FOP) labels have the potential to influence the portion size considered appropriate for consumption. The present study examined the how the Daily Intake Guide (DIG), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) and Health Star Rating (HSR) FOP labels affect judgements of appropriate portion sizes of unhealthy foods compared with when no FOP label is present. Design Respondents viewed mock packages of unhealthy variations of pizzas, cookies, yoghurts and cornflakes featuring the DIG, MTL, HSR or no FOP label, and indicated the portion size they believed should be eaten of each food on a single occasion. Setting The survey was completed on the respondent’s personal computer. Subjects A total of 1505 Australian adults provided 4166 ratings across 192 mock packages relating to four product categories: pizza, yoghurt, cornflakes and cookies. Results Compared with no FOP label, the HSR resulted in a small but significant reduction in the portion size selected as appropriate for consumption of pizzas and cornflakes ( P P Conclusions Respondents perceived smaller portion sizes as appropriate for some, but not all, of the foods tested when FOP labels with more interpretative formats (HSR, MTL) appeared on-pack compared with no FOP label. No effect was found for the less interpretive FOP label (the DIG). Interpretive FOP labels may have the potential to influence portion size judgements, albeit at modest levels

Advertising · Art · Business · Consumption (sociology · Environmental health · Nutrition facts label · Packaging and labeling · Portion size · Respondent · Serving size · Chemistry · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Consumer Packaging Perceptions and Trends · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Food Science · Marketing

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