Adherence
Interpretive front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labels that evaluate product unhealthfulness (e.g., stop signs, traffic lights) are more effective at guiding consumers toward healthier choices than positive signposts or non-interpretive labels.
If you are a policymaker, prioritize interpretive labels (like stop signs or traffic lights) that highlight unhealthiness over positive endorsements or raw numbers. Ensure the regulation is mandatory, clearly defined, and developed with independent experts to withstand legal challenges from the food industry. This approach is more likely to help consumers, especially those with lower literacy, make healthier choices.
Recent regulation adopted in Uruguay elected to use ‘excess’ rather than ‘high in’ for specific nutrients... By contrast, the past 5 years has brought rapid innovation in labels that evaluate product unhealthfulness, which appear more effective in supporting consumers to choose nutritionally favourable products.
Why this rating
Based on a systematic analysis of 31 global regulations and cited evidence on label efficacy.
Source
Front-of-pack nutrition labelling to promote healthier diets: current practice and opportunities to strengthen regulation worldwide
Alexandra Jones et al. · BMJ Global Health · 2019
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →