Research

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.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
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.
Alexandra Jones et al. · BMJ Global Health · 2019

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

narrative_reviewCited 218×
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