Frosting on the cake

Pictures on food packaging bias serving size

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15090243
AutoresJohn Brand (Cornell University), Brian Wansink (0000-0003-0116-0017, Cornell University, autor de correspondencia), Abby Cohen (University of Arizona)
Año2016
Volumen19
Número12
Páginas2128-2134
Fecha de publicación2016-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980016000458
PMID27022823
OpenAlexW2326533950
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas21

Objective Food packaging often pictures supplementary extras, such as toppings or frosting, that are not listed on the nutritional labelling. The present study aimed to assess if these extras might exaggerate how many calories† are pictured and if they lead consumers to overserve. Design Four studies were conducted in the context of fifty-one different cake mixes. For these cake mixes, Study 1 compared the calories stated on the nutrition label with the calories of the cake (and frosting) pictured on the box. In Studies 2, 3 and 4, undergraduates (Studies 2 and 3) or food-service professionals (Study 4) were given one of these typical cake mix boxes, with some being told that cake frosting was not included on the nutritional labelling whereas others were provided with no additional information. They were then asked to indicate what they believed to be a reasonable serving size of cake. Settings Laboratory setting. Subjects Undergraduate students and food-service professionals. Results Study 1 showed that the average calories of cake and frosting pictured on the package of fifty-one different cake mixes exceed the calories on the nutritional label by 134 %. Studies 2 and 3 showed that informing consumers that the nutritional information does not include frosting reduces how much people serve. Study 4 showed that even food-service professionals overserve if not told that frosting is not included on the nutritional labelling. Conclusions To be less misleading, packaging should either not depict extras in its pictures or it should more boldly and clearly state that extras are not included in calorie counts

Advertising · Biology · Business · Calorie · Context (archaeology · Environmental health · Food service · Geography · Labelling · Nutritional information · Portion size · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Consumer Packaging Perceptions and Trends · Medicine · Multisensory perception and integration · Psychology · Food Science · Marketing