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Kolber A, Meixner O. Effects of Multi-Level Eco-Labels on the Product Evaluation of Meat and Meat Alternatives-A Discrete Choice Experiment. Foods 2023; 12:2941. [PMID: 37569210 PMCID: PMC10418589 DOI: 10.3390/foods12152941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Eco-labels are an instrument for enabling informed food choices and supporting a demand-sided change towards an urgently needed sustainable food system. Lately, novel eco-labels that depict a product's environmental life cycle assessment on a multi-level scale are being tested across Europe's retailers. This study elicits consumers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for a multi-level eco-label. A Discrete Choice Experiment was conducted; a representative sample (n = 536) for the Austrian population was targeted via an online survey. Individual partworth utilities were estimated by means of the Hierarchical Bayes. The results show higher WTP for a positively evaluated multi-level label, revealing consumers' perceived benefits of colorful multi-level labels over binary black-and-white designs. Even a negatively evaluated multi-level label was associated with a higher WTP compared to one with no label, pointing towards the limited effectiveness of eco-labels. Respondents' preferences for eco-labels were independent from their subjective eco-label knowledge, health consciousness, and environmental concern. The attribute "protein source" was most important, and preference for an animal-based protein source (beef) was strongly correlated with consumers' meat attachment, implying that a shift towards more sustainable protein sources is challenging, and sustainability labels have only a small impact on the meat product choice of average consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Meixner
- Institute of Marketing & Innovation, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Feistmantelstraße 4, A-1180 Vienna, Austria;
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Hengist A, Davies RG, Rogers PJ, Brunstrom JM, van Loon LJC, Walhin JP, Thompson D, Koumanov F, Betts JA, Gonzalez JT. Restricting sugar or carbohydrate intake does not impact physical activity level or energy intake over 24 h despite changes in substrate use: a randomised crossover study in healthy men and women. Eur J Nutr 2023; 62:921-940. [PMID: 36326863 PMCID: PMC9941259 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-022-03048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the effects of dietary sugar or carbohydrate restriction on physical activity energy expenditure, energy intake, and physiological outcomes across 24 h. METHODS In a randomized, open-label crossover design, twenty-five healthy men (n = 10) and women (n = 15) consumed three diets over a 24-h period: moderate carbohydrate and sugar content (MODSUG = 50% carbohydrate [20% sugars], 15% protein, 35% fat); low sugar content (LOWSUG = 50% carbohydrate [< 5% sugars], 15% protein, 35% fat); and low carbohydrate content (LOWCHO = 8% carbohydrate [< 5% sugars], 15% protein, 77% fat). Postprandial metabolic responses to a prescribed breakfast (20% EI) were monitored under laboratory conditions before an ad libitum test lunch, with subsequent diet and physical activity monitoring under free-living conditions until blood sample collection the following morning. RESULTS The MODSUG, LOWSUG and LOWCHO diets resulted in similar mean [95%CI] rates of both physical activity energy expenditure (771 [624, 919] vs. 677 [565, 789] vs. 802 [614, 991] kcal·d-1; p = 0.29] and energy intake (2071 [1794, 2347] vs. 2195 [1918, 2473] vs. 2194 [1890, 2498] kcal·d-1; P = 0.34), respectively. The LOWCHO condition elicited the lowest glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to breakfast (P < 0.01) but the highest 24-h increase in LDL-cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.001), with no differences between the MODSUG and LOWSUG treatments. Leptin concentrations decreased over 24-h of consuming LOWCHO relative to LOWSUG (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION When energy density is controlled for, restricting either sugar or total dietary carbohydrate does not modulate physical activity level or energy intake over a 24-h period (~ 19-h free-living) despite substantial metabolic changes. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION ID NCT03509610, https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03509610.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Hengist
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Russell G Davies
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Peter J Rogers
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jeff M Brunstrom
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Luc J C van Loon
- Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Philippe Walhin
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Dylan Thompson
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Françoise Koumanov
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - James A Betts
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Javier T Gonzalez
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
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Chu R, Tang T, Hetherington MM. Attention to detail: A photo-elicitation study of salience and packaging design for portion control and healthy eating. NUTR BULL 2022; 47:501-515. [PMID: 36329606 PMCID: PMC10092796 DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Evidence demonstrates that food packaging attracts consumers to purchase and has the potential to nudge consumers towards healthy choices, including reducing portion size. However, food purchasing decisions are often automatic and packaging features may go unnoticed. Therefore, it is important to understand what consumers identify as most salient about packaging: what they notice and why, and which elements might nudge consumers towards healthy options and smaller portions of high-energy-density foods. This study explored consumer perception of food packaging, investigated specific features associated with portion control and elicited design ideas to improve packaging for healthy eating and downsizing. A qualitative approach was adopted applying a participant-driven photo-elicitation (PDPE) task with in-depth interviews. Participants were 25 adults living in the UK (aged 20-32 years; 17 females, 8 males, x ¯ BMI = 23 kg/m2 ). Participants took photographs of 10 food packages according to salience (n = 5) and portion control (n = 5). These were uploaded to a secure site and then discussed at the interview, which was transcribed and analysed. The salience of packaging was described in terms of trust building, stimulating appetite and relating to self-identity, whereas for portion control, themes included structural reminders, healthy prompts and portion awareness. Packaging can be designed to make health value or serving size more salient by prompting portion control and increasing the attractiveness of packaging. While food purchase decisions happen with little deliberation, when probed, consumers provide useful insights for packaging design to assist portion control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Chu
- School of Design, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Tang Tang
- School of Design, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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De Bauw M, Vranken L, Matthys C. Bridging gaps in food labelling. NUTR BULL 2022; 47:2-8. [DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michiel De Bauw
- Division of Bio‐economics Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Liesbet Vranken
- Division of Bio‐economics Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Christophe Matthys
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology University Hospitals Leuven Leuven Belgium
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