Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Traffic light label (TLL) and nutrition facts label (NFL) and the strategies for improving their use in Iran, based on the perspectives of different stakeholders, including mothers, food quality control experts (FQC), nutritionists and food industry experts.MethodsWe conducted 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 63 mothers, 10 semi-structured interviews with FQCs, 1 FGD with 6 nutritionists and 1 FGD with 8 food industry experts. To clarify some of the questions that arose from the interviews, the researcher interviewed three policy makers who had sufficient information about the TLL. The discussions and interviews were transcribed verbatim and MAXQDA10 software was used for coding.ResultsThe most important findings of this study based on different stakeholders’ perspectives were as follows: mothers believed that nutrition labels reduced the consumption of high-calorie products, although they found the TLL to be easier to understand than the NFL because of its red color. However, their weaknesses were their incompatibility with culture and the lack of trust in the information provided by manufacturers. FQCs pointed out the possibility of changing formulations and the appropriateness of the traffic light for patients, but like mothers, they believed that the labels did not suit the governing culture. Further weaknesses were, misleading the consumer, problems in the colorings reported by different laboratories, and different approaches adopted by regulatory experts. The simplicity of understanding TLL for the general public has been suggested by some nutritionists. Nevertheless, the multiplicity of colors of the TLL was the most important weakness presented by nutritionists and food industry experts and the failure to implement nutrition labels was another issue raised by experts. To improve the use of nutrition labels, notification via media especially television, community education and culture building were suggested by all stakeholders.ConclusionsThe findings of this study underscore the importance of implementing the policy of nutrition labeling in Iran. Mothers and nutritionists believed TLL to be more appropriate for the public to understand, however, FQCs and food industry experts believed that NFL was more suitable in guiding consumers toward healthy food choices. Education and information dissemination via media on interpretive TLL may affect consumer behavior toward food purchases.
Highlights
Adopting an effective policy to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a valuable public health achievement which faces many challenges worldwide
The most important findings of this study based on different stakeholders’ perspectives were as follows: mothers believed that nutrition labels reduced the consumption of high-calorie products, they found the Traffic light label (TLL) to be easier to understand than the nutrition facts label (NFL) because of its red color
food quality control experts (FQC) pointed out the possibility of changing formulations and the appropriateness of the traffic light for patients, but like mothers, they believed that the labels did not suit the governing culture
Summary
Adopting an effective policy to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a valuable public health achievement which faces many challenges worldwide. Various policies are being implemented in the world to improve the food pattern, of which food labeling [2, 3], taxes and subsidies [4, 5] are examples of these programs One of these cost-effective policies is nutrition labeling [6], which contains information that guides consumers toward making better food choices, and may be considered among the most important priorities of preventing NCDs in Iran [7]. Based on the definitions of the ‘Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ [11] and the ‘Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran’ [12], the nutrition facts sheet is a description of the nutritional facts of a food product designed to inform the consumer It consists of two parts, nutrients and supplemental nutritional information. This study aimed to explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Traffic light label (TLL) and nutrition facts label (NFL) and the strategies for improving their use in Iran, based on the perspectives of different stakeholders, including mothers, food quality control experts (FQC), nutritionists and food industry experts
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