Abstract
In the context of the ongoing debate on front-of-pack labels (FOPL), extant research highlights a lack of clear indications on which label is most effective in increasing consumers’ knowledge of food nutritional quality, and in favoring informed food choices. In this study, we have compared the effects of two different labels, one nutrient-specific label (i.e., NutrInform Battery) and one summary label (i.e., Nutri-Score), in terms of consumers’ “subjective understanding” and “liking”. Our work advances prior research on FOPL performance by focusing on two different countries—which have different socio-political contexts and which, from previous studies, present limited evidence on the topic—Slovenia, currently utilizing the Protective Food logo, and the Netherlands, who has recently adopted the Nutri-Score. The study also confirms, in line with previous research, a higher effectiveness of the nutrient-specific label, NutrInform Battery, on all analyzed dimensions in tested countries, when compared to the summary label, Nutri-Score.
Highlights
In the last few years, the phenomena of overweight and obesity have emerged as some of the most serious global health problems, with consequences on several noncommunicable diseases [1]
Graded Indicators (e.g., Nutri-Score) The label provides a synthetic appreciation of a product’s overall nutritional value through a “graded indicator” that provides graded information on the nutritional quality of foods that is applied on all food products
This study aims at further contributing to the European discussion on label adoption, comparing the performance of different front-of-pack labels (FOPL) in two countries with limited evidence on the impact of FOPL on consumers, with specific attention to the pre-usage phase of subjective understanding and liking
Summary
In the last few years, the phenomena of overweight and obesity have emerged as some of the most serious global health problems, with consequences on several noncommunicable diseases [1]. Their rate has nearly tripled since 1975: recent predictions forecast that 50% of global citizens will be overweight by 2030 [2]. In 2016, 1.9 billion people over were considered overweight, whereas in the youngest part of the population, ranging from 5 to years old, 340 million of people were found to be overweight or obese [1]. A World Obesity Federation report released on 4 March 2021 showed additional trends, noting that COVID-19 mortality rates were ten times higher in countries in which more than half of the population is obese [3]
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