Assessing transnational spillover effects of Mexico's front-of-package nutritional labeling system among Mexican Americans in the US

Abstract

ObjectiveIn 2020, Mexico implemented innovative front-of-package nutrition warning labels (FoPWLs) for packaged foods to increase the salience and understanding of nutrition information. This study evaluated Mexican Americans' self-reported exposure to Mexican FoPWLs and self-reported effects of FoPWLs on purchasing behavior. MethodsThe 2021 International Food Policy Study surveyed online panels of adult Mexican Americans in the US (n = 3361) to self-report on buying food at Mexican-oriented stores, noticing Mexican FoPWLs, and being influenced by FoPWLs to purchase less of eight different unhealthy foods (each assessed separately). After recoding the frequency of buying foods in Mexican stores and noticing FoPWLs (i.e., “often” or “very often” vs. less often), logistic models regressed these outcomes on sociodemographics, adjusting for post-stratification weights. ResultsMost participants (88.0%) purchased foods in Mexican stores. Of these, 64.1% reported noticing FoPWLs, among whom many reported that FoPWLs influenced them to buy fewer unhealthy foods (range = 32% [snacks like chips] - 44% [colas]). Participants were more likely to buy foods in Mexican stores and notice FoPWLs if they were younger, had ≥two children at home vs no children (AOR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.15–1.71; AOR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.03–1.80, respectively), and more frequently used Spanish (AOR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.77–2.07; AOR = 1.87, 95%CI = 1.69–2.07). Also, high vs. low education (AOR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.17–1.94) and higher income adequacy (AOR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.25–1.51) were positively associated with noticing FoPWLs. Being female and more frequent Spanish use were consistently associated with reporting purchase of fewer unhealthy foods because of FoPWLs. ConclusionsMany Mexican Americans report both exposure to Mexican FOPWLs and reducing purchases of unhealthy foods because of them.