Adherence
Front-of-pack multiple traffic light labels significantly improve consumers' objective ability to identify healthier food options compared to no labels or other formats, but this improved perception does not translate into healthier actual food choices or consumption patterns.
Using traffic light labels on food packaging helps shoppers correctly identify which products are healthier than others, but simply putting these labels on products will not change what people actually buy or eat. To improve diet quality, labeling must be combined with other strategies that address time pressure, habit, and environmental cues, as knowledge alone does not drive behavior change.
The current study shows, that German adults profit most from the multiple traffic light labels. Perceived healthiness of foods is influenced by this label format most often. Nevertheless, such changes in perceived healthiness are unlikely to influence food choice and consumption.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with a large sample size (N=420) and clear statistical differentiation between conditions.
Source
Impact of different food label formats on healthiness evaluation and food choice of consumers: a randomized-controlled study
Ingrid Borgmeier et al. · BMC Public Health · 2009
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