Abstract
The WHO recommends front-of-package labeling (FOPL) to help parents make healthier food choices for their children. But which type of FOPL resonates with parents in China? We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate parental preferences for five widely used formats of FOPL. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was applied to selected parents of students in primary and secondary schools in six provinces and municipalities from July 2020 to March 2021. A close-ended questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, parents’ preferences for five FOPL in three dimensions, perceptions of the importance of nutrients labeled on FOPL, and prepackaged foods that need FOPL most. Chi-square tests were used to examine the characteristics among five groups. The results showed that multiple traffic lights (MTL) was preferred by parents, followed by warning labels. Parents thought the most needed nutrients to label were sugar, salt, and total fat. The top three prepackaged foods to label were “baked food”, “milk and dairy products” and “sugar-sweetened beverages”. Our findings indicate that nutrient-specific FOPL formats with interpretive aids were preferred by Chinese parents. These new findings can help inform the planning and implementation of FOPL in China and help Chinese parents make healthier food choices.
Highlights
Poor diet is largely responsible for worldwide non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causing 80% of deaths in China every year in particular [1]
This study aims to address the gap in knowledge by describing levels of preference for different front-of-package labeling (FOPL) with various characteristics among Chinese parents, as well as to identify their preferred nutrients and categories of prepackaged food
Characteristics of Chinese Parents Participating in the Study
Summary
Poor diet is largely responsible for worldwide non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causing 80% of deaths in China every year in particular [1]. Report on Chinese Dietary Guidelines (2021) [2], people in China are consuming excessive salt, edible oil, and added sugars. Prepackaged food and processed food are important components of those unhealthy diets and account for a growing proportion. China is one of the world’s largest countries of prepackaged food consumption [3]. A comparative study from 12 countries reported that prepackaged food in China contains higher amounts of salt, fat, and sugar and is less healthier than other countries [1]. Making a healthier choice is very important in this severe food environment. The Chinese government has released national standards of the Nutrition
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
