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Huang Z, Li H, Huang J. Chinese consumers' psychology and behavior of the foods with nutrition claims based on AISAS model. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1309478. [PMID: 38496793 PMCID: PMC10941286 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1309478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective We analyzed the impact of nutrition claims on Chinese consumer psychology and behavior process based on the theoretical framework of AISAS (Attention-Interest-Search-Action-Share) model. Design To adopt questionnaires to collect gender, age, income and other basic information of adult residents and a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) to collect data on residents' attention to nutrition claims, interest in nutrition claims, search on nutrition claim information, purchasing behavior on food with nutrition claims, sharing information on food with nutrition claims. Then to study the relationship between the basic situation of residents and their attention, interest, search, food purchase behavior and sharing of nutrition claims by using exploratory factor analysis, reliability and validity test, structural equation modeling estimation and hypothesis testing. Participants Chinese adults. Setting Multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to collect the valid online questionnaire of 630 Chinese adults from Central, North, East, South, Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast China. Results Younger adults and those with higher household incomes exhibited heightened attention to nutrition claims. Furthermore, consumers' attention to nutrition claims could be transformed into food information sharing through interest, information search, and food purchase. Consumers' interest in food with nutrition claims could be transformed directly into food purchase. Consumers' search for related information could be directly transformed into food information sharing. Conclusion Chinese consumers' age and household income could be included in the AISAS model for the foods with nutrition claims, and the consumers' action and share could transform from their interest and search.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeying Huang
- Institute of Food and Nutrition Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Haijun Li
- School of Information and Intelligence Engineering, University of Sanya, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Jiazhang Huang
- Institute of Food and Nutrition Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
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Fleming-Milici F, Gershman H, Pomeranz J, Harris JL. Effects of a front-of-package disclosure on accuracy in assessing children's drink ingredients: two randomised controlled experiments with US caregivers of young children. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:2790-2801. [PMID: 37908052 PMCID: PMC10755381 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023001969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Test effects of a standardised front-of-package (FOP) disclosure statement (indicating added sugar, non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) and juice content) on accuracy in assessing ingredients and perceived healthfulness of children's drinks. DESIGN In two randomised controlled experiments, the same participants viewed drink packages and indicated if products contained added sugar or NNS and percent juice and rated drink healthfulness. Experiment 1 (E1) included novel (non-US) children's drinks with a) product claims only (control), b) claims and disclosure, or c) disclosure only. Experiment 2 (E2) included existing children's drinks (with claims) with a) no disclosure (control) or b) disclosure. Both experiments evaluated sweetened (fruit drink and flavoured water) and unsweetened (100 % juice and juice/water blend) drinks. Potential individual differences (education level and race/ethnicity) in effects were explored. SETTING Online survey. PARTICIPANTS Six hundred and forty-eight US caregivers of young children (1-5 years). RESULTS FOP disclosures significantly increased accuracy for most ingredients and drink types, including identifying presence or absence of NNS in sweetened drinks, no added sugar in juice/water blends, and actual percent juice in fruit drinks and juice/water blends in both experiments. Disclosures also increased recognition that the novel 100 % juice and juice/water blend did not contain NNS or added sugar (E1) and existing sweetened drinks contained added sugar (E2). Disclosures reduced perceived healthfulness of sweetened drinks but did not increase unsweetened drink healthfulness ratings. Some differences by participant socio-demographic characteristics require additional research. CONCLUSIONS FOP disclosures on children's drink packages can increase caregivers' understanding of product ingredients and aid in selecting healthier children's drinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Fleming-Milici
- Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT06103, USA
| | - Haley Gershman
- Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT06103, USA
| | - Jennifer Pomeranz
- Department of Public Health Policy and Management, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer L Harris
- Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT06103, USA
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Hall MG, Richter APC, Ruggles PR, Lee CJY, Lazard AJ, Grummon AH, Higgins ICA, Duffy EW, Taillie LS. Natural Claims on Sugary Fruit Drinks: A Randomized Experiment With U.S. Parents. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:876-885. [PMID: 37480920 PMCID: PMC10592329 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Natural claims on food are largely unregulated in the U.S. This study examined the effects of natural claims on a fruit-flavored drink with added sugar (i.e., fruit drink). METHODS In 2019, U.S. parents of children aged 2-12 years (N=1,078) recruited from an online survey panel were randomized to one of three arms: natural claim on a fruit drink, 100% all-natural claim, or a no-claim control. Parents reported their intentions and perceptions regarding fruit drinks using 1-5 response scales. Analysis occurred in 2022-2023. RESULTS Both natural claims led parents to have higher intentions to purchase a fruit drink for their child than the control (average differential effect=0.20-0.24, both p<0.05). The natural claim (but not the 100% all-natural claim) also led parents to think that the fruit drink was healthier for their children (average differential effect=0.22, p=0.024). Claims made parents less likely to think that the drink contained added sugar (average differential effect= -0.08 to -0.12, both p<0.05) and led to lower estimated amounts of added sugar in teaspoons (average differential effect= -1.77 to -2.09, both p<0.05). Mediation analyses revealed that the claims led to higher intentions to purchase the fruit drink by increasing perceived healthfulness of the fruit drink and by leading parents to believe that there was no added sugar in the fruit drink. CONCLUSIONS Natural claims could increase interest in and perceived healthfulness of fruit drinks. Misperceptions about the nutritional content caused by claims appear to be driving greater purchase intentions. These findings suggest a need for stronger regulation around natural claims to prevent consumer misunderstanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| | - Ana Paula C Richter
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Phoebe R Ruggles
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Cristina J Y Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Hussman School of Journalism and Media, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Isabella C A Higgins
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Emily W Duffy
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Duffy E, Ng SW, Hall MG, Bercholz M, Rebolledo N, Musicus A, Taillie LS. Sociodemographic disparities in purchases of fruit drinks with policy relevant front-of-package nutrition claims. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:1585-1595. [PMID: 37211358 PMCID: PMC10410375 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023000691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objectives were to describe sociodemographic characteristics associated with the purchase of (1) any fruit drinks and (2) fruit drinks with specific front-of-package (FOP) nutrition claims. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING USA. PARTICIPANTS We merged fruit drink purchasing data from 60 712 household-months from 5233 households with children 0-5 years participating in Nielsen Homescan in 2017 with nutrition claims data. We examined differences in predicted probabilities of purchasing any fruit drinks by race/ethnicity, income and education. We constructed inverse probability (IP) weights based on likelihood of purchasing any fruit drinks. We used IP-weighted multivariable logistic regression models to examine predicted probabilities of purchasing fruit drinks with specific FOP claims. RESULTS One-third of households with young children purchased any fruit drinks. Non-Hispanic (NH) Black (51·6 %), Hispanic (36·3 %), lower-income (39·3 %) and lower-educated households (40·9 %) were more likely to purchase any fruit drinks than NH White (31·3 %), higher-income (25·8 %) and higher-educated households (30·3 %) (all P < 0·001). In IP-weighted analyses, NH Black households were more likely to purchase fruit drinks with 'Natural' and fruit or fruit flavour claims (6·8 % and 3·7 %) than NH White households (4·5 % and 2·7 %) (both P < 0·01). Lower- and middle-income (15·0 % and 13·8 %) and lower- and middle-educated households (15·4 % and 14·5 %) were more likely to purchase fruit drinks with '100 % Vitamin C' claims than higher-income (10·8 %) and higher-educated households (12·9 %) (all P < 0·025). CONCLUSIONS We found a higher likelihood of fruit drink purchases in lower-income, lower-educated, NH Black and Hispanic households. Experimental studies should determine if nutrition claims may be contributing to disparities in fruit drink consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Duffy
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and Carolina Population Center, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Natalia Rebolledo
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
| | - Aviva Musicus
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
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Champeny M, Yuen-Esco K, Juniza E, Sy NY, Kane R, Badham J, Mulder A, Pries AM. Accuracy of declared nutrient content on labels of commercial complementary food products in Cambodia, Indonesia and Senegal. Matern Child Nutr 2023; 19:e13504. [PMID: 36961253 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) have the potential to fill nutritional gaps in the diets of older infants and young children. This study evaluated the accuracy of nutrient declarations on labels of 43 commonly available CPCF in three peri-urban/urban locations: Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia (n = 11); Bandung, Indonesia (n = 11) and Guédiawaye and Dakar departments, Senegal (n = 21). Label values (LV) from product nutrient declarations were compared to analytical values (AV) derived from laboratory nutrient analysis for macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and total fat), nutrients of public health concern (saturated fat, total sugar and sodium), and micronutrients of interest (calcium, iron and zinc). European Union guidance for nutrition label accuracy was used to set tolerance ranges for each nutrient LV relative to AV. LV were missing for one or more nutrients in 88.4% (n = 38) of the CPCF products and no CPCF met EU tolerance thresholds for all nine nutrients assessed. Over half of products with LV for key micronutrients (55.6%, n = 10/18) and macronutrients (54.8%, n = 23/42) met tolerances for LV accuracy. Eighty-five percent (n = 11/13) of products with LV for nutrients of public health concern were determined to be accurate. Nutrient content claims for iron appeared on 19 (44.2%) of the 43 products. Of the products which made an iron content claim, 26.3% had inaccurate LV with the majority of these containing less iron than declared. Regulatory action is needed to ensure that CPCF labelling communicates complete and accurate nutrient content information that enables caregivers to make informed decisions for feeding older infants and young children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eva Juniza
- Helen Keller International, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ndeye Y Sy
- Helen Keller International, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Jane Badham
- JB Consultancy, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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D’Angelo-Campos A, Taillie LS, Vatavuk-Serrati G, Grummon AH, Higgins ICA, Hall MG. Effects of pictorial warnings on parents' purchases and perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverage categories. Pediatr Obes 2023; 18:e13030. [PMID: 36965067 PMCID: PMC10687846 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption remains high among US children. Warning labels on SSBs hold promise for reducing consumption, but their impact may differ by SSB category. OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of pictorial warnings on parents' beverage purchases and perceptions across SSB categories. METHODS Parents of children ages 2-12 (n = 326) visited a convenience store laboratory in North Carolina. Participants were randomly assigned to see SSBs carrying either pictorial warning labels or control labels. Parents purchased a beverage for their child and completed a survey. RESULTS Responses from parents in the control arm suggest underlying perceptions of flavoured milk (2.8 on scale ranging from 1 to 5), flavoured water (2.6), and fruit-flavoured drinks (2.5) as the most healthful SSB categories. Compared to the control, pictorial warnings led to the largest reductions in purchases of fruit drinks (-61%), soda (-36%) and flavoured milk (-32%). Warnings also lowered the perceived healthfulness of flavoured water (d = -0.34), flavoured milk (d = -0.28), sports drinks (d = -0.25), and a reduction in intentions to give one's child sports drinks (d = -0.30), flavoured water (d = -0.24) and sweet tea (d = -0.22, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Warning labels may have heterogeneous effects across SSB categories. Future research should assess the psychological mechanisms underlying these heterogeneous effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline D’Angelo-Campos
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lindsey S Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gabriela Vatavuk-Serrati
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Isabella C. A Higgins
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Hall MG, Grummon AH, Queen T, Lazard AJ, Higgins ICA, Richter APC, Taillie LS. How pictorial warnings change parents' purchases of sugar-sweetened beverage for their children: mechanisms of impact. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2023; 20:76. [PMID: 37353823 PMCID: PMC10290296 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01469-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pictorial health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a promising policy for preventing diet-related disease in children. A recent study found that pictorial warnings reduced parents' purchases of SSBs for their children by 17%. However, the psychological mechanisms through which warnings affect parental behavior remain unknown. We aimed to identify the mechanisms that explain how pictorial warnings affect parents' SSB purchasing behavior for their children using secondary data from a randomized trial. METHODS In 2020-2021, parents of children ages 2 to 12 years (n = 325) completed a shopping task in a convenience store laboratory in North Carolina, USA. Participants were randomly assigned to a pictorial warnings arm (SSBs displayed pictorial health warnings about type 2 diabetes and heart damage) or a control arm (SSBs displayed a barcode label). Parents then bought a beverage for their child and took a survey measuring 11 potential psychological mediators, selected based on health behavior theories and a model explaining the impact of tobacco warnings. We conducted simple mediation analyses to identify which of the 11 mechanisms mediated the impact of exposure to pictorial warnings on purchasing any SSBs for their children. RESULTS Two of the 11 constructs were statistically significant mediators. First, the impact of pictorial warnings on the likelihood of purchasing any SSB was mediated by parents' perceptions that SSBs were healthier for their child (mediated effect= -0.17; 95% CI = - 0.33, - 0.05). Second, parents' intentions to serve SSBs to their children also mediated the effect of warnings on likelihood of purchasing any SSB (mediated effect= -0.07, 95% CI=-0.21, - 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Pictorial warnings reduced parents' purchases of SSBs for their children by making parents think SSBs are less healthful for their children and reducing their intentions to serve SSBs to their children. Communication approaches that target healthfulness perceptions and intentions to serve SSBs may motivate parents to buy fewer SSBs for their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Tara Queen
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Isabella C A Higgins
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ana Paula C Richter
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Saavedra-Garcia L, Taboada-Ramirez X, Hernández-Vásquez A, Diez-Canseco F. Marketing techniques, health, and nutritional claims on processed foods and beverages before and after the implementation of mandatory front-of-package warning labels in Peru. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1004106. [PMID: 36407533 PMCID: PMC9666783 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1004106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In June 2019, mandatory front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) were implemented in Peru. The aim of the study was to describe changes in marketing strategies on packaging: marketing techniques (MT), health claims (HC), and nutritional claims (NC) on the packaging of products frequently consumed by children before and after the FOPL implementation. Product photos were taken pre- (March 2019) and post-implementation (March-October 2020) in three supermarkets in Lima, Peru. Following INFORMAS protocols and Peruvian Technical Norms, the presence of MT, HC, and NC was assessed on all package sides. Products were classified as "high-in" and "not high-in" based on the regulation threshold for critical nutrients. Differences in the proportion of products with each strategy in both periods were evaluated. Also, a subsample of products was matched according to the barcode and exact McNemar test was used to compare proportions of strategies pre/post-implementation. We included 883 and 1,035 products in pre- and post-implementation, respectively. In both periods, MT appeared on almost 70% of all products. The presence of HC increased significantly only for beverages (24.5-38.1%, p < 0.001). In both phases, NC were commonly used on beverages (>80%). Overall, the prevalence of "high-in" products using MT increased (73.6-82.1%, p = 0.007), while use of HC increased among "not high-in" products (32.9-41.6%, p < 0.001). There is a high frequency of MT on all products and NC on beverages. The increase in MT in "high-in" products may be an industry response to minimize the impact of the FOPL on food choices and sales. New regulatory aspects regarding labeling should be implemented to strengthen the current policy.
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Musicus AA, Roberto CA, Moran AJ, Sorscher S, Greenthal E, Rimm EB. Effect of Front-of-Package Information, Fruit Imagery, and High-Added Sugar Warning Labels on Parent Beverage Choices for Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2236384. [PMID: 36227595 PMCID: PMC9561948 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.36384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Fruit drinks are widely consumed by young children, and many parents mistakenly believe that these drinks are healthy, potentially due to front-of-package claims and imagery. Research is needed on the influence of this marketing and how labeling regulations could change behavior. OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of a front-of-package 100% vitamin C claim, fruit imagery, percentage juice and teaspoons of added sugar disclosures, and high-added sugar warnings on parents' choices, knowledge, and perceptions of beverages. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This randomized clinical trial was conducted May to July 2021 as a single-exposure (no follow-up) online survey of primary caregivers of children ages 0 to 5 years throughout the US. INTERVENTIONS Participants were shown no-, low-, and high-added sugar beverages and asked to choose 1 for their child. Participants were randomized to see high-added sugar beverages with 1 of 7 front-of-package conditions: (1) claim and imagery (control); (2) no claim; (3) no imagery; (4) no claim or imagery; (5) claim, imagery, and percentage juice disclosure; (6) claim, imagery, and warning; or (7) claim, imagery, warning, and teaspoons of added sugar disclosure. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Primary outcomes were type of beverage chosen (eg, high-added sugar beverage) and resulting calories and added sugar (in grams). Secondary outcomes were fruit drink knowledge (added sugar and percent juice) and perceptions. RESULTS There were 5005 participants included in the final analysis (mean [SD] age, 31.5 [8.3] years; 3587 female participants [71.7%]), including 714 participants in group 1, 717 participants in group 2, 710 participants in group 3, 717 participants in group 4, 708 participants in group 5, 729 participants in group 6, and 710 participants in group 7. Compared with participants in the control group, who had a mean (standard error [SE]) of 9.4 (0.5) g of added sugar and 81.9 (1.6) kcal in chosen beverages, only participants who saw warnings with teaspoons of added sugar disclosures had significantly reduced added sugar (-1.3 g; 95% CI, -2.6 to -0.1 g [-14.2%; 95% CI, -26.7% to -1.8%]; P = .04) and calories (-5.3 kcal; 95% CI, -9.8 to -0.9 kcal [-6.5%; 95% CI, -11.8% to -1.3%]; P = .02) in selected beverages. In warning conditions (ie, 6 and 7) compared with the control group (mean [SE] 41.0% [1.8%]), the proportion of participants choosing high-added sugar beverages was significantly reduced, by 5.5 percentage points (95% CI, 0.5 to 10.5 percentage points [13.4%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 25.6%]; P = .03) and 6.4 percentage points (95% CI, 1.4 to 11.4 percentage points [15.6%; 95% CI, 3.3% to 27.8%]; P = .01), respectively. The no claim or imagery condition (4) significantly reduced the proportion of parents choosing high-added sugar beverages (-7.6 percentage points; 95% CI, -12.6 to -2.6 percentage points [-18.4%; 95% CI, -30.6% to -6.3%]; P = .003). Percentage juice disclosures did not affect beverage choice. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that added sugar warnings and prohibitions of front-of-package claims and imagery may reduce parents' purchases of high-added sugar beverages for their young children but that percentage juice disclosures may not change behavior. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04811690.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva A. Musicus
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christina A. Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Alyssa J. Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sarah Sorscher
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Eva Greenthal
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Eric B. Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Hua SV, Musicus AA, Thorndike AN, Kenney EL, Rimm EB. Child-Directed Marketing, Health Claims, and Nutrients in Popular Beverages. Am J Prev Med 2022; 63:354-361. [PMID: 35393144 PMCID: PMC9398955 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fruit drinks are a major source of added sugar in children's diets. This study describes the associations between front-of-package child-directed marketing (i.e., sports, fantasy, or child-directed imagery; child-directed text) and (1) health-related claims and (2) nutrient content of fruit drinks, 100% juices, and flavored waters. METHODS Beverage purchase data from a national sample of 1,048 households with children aged 0-5 years were linked with front-of-package label and nutrition data to conduct a content analysis on fruit drinks (n=510), 100% juices (n=337), and noncarbonated flavored waters (n=40) in 2019-2020. Unstratified and stratified regression models assessed the differences in the prevalence of claims (macronutrient, micronutrient, natural/healthy, and fruit and juice), non-nutritive sweeteners, and nutrient content (calories, total sugar, and percent daily value of vitamin C) between drinks with and those without child-directed marketing in 2021. RESULTS Fruit drinks with child-directed marketing were more likely to show front-of-package micronutrient claims (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.5, 3.1) and contained more vitamin C (18.5% daily value, 95% CI=1.6, 35.5) than fruit drinks without child-directed marketing. 100% juices with child-directed marketing contained less vitamin C (-35.6% daily value, 95% CI= -57.5, -13.8) and 3.0 (95% CI= -5.5, -0.4) fewer grams of sugar than 100% juices without child-directed marketing. Flavored waters with child-directed marketing contained less vitamin C (-37.9% daily value, 95% CI= -68.1, -7.6) than flavored waters without child-directed marketing. CONCLUSIONS The combination of child-directed marketing with health-related claims may mislead parents into believing that fruit drinks are healthy and appealing to their children, highlighting the need for government regulation of sugary drink marketing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia V Hua
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Aviva A Musicus
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erica L Kenney
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Sylvetsky AC, Hoang ST, Visek AJ, Halberg SE, Smith M, Salahmand Y, Blake EF, Jin Y, Colón-Ramos U, Lora KR. Beverage Characteristics Perceived as Healthy among Hispanic and African-American Parents of Young Children. J Acad Nutr Diet 2022; 122:1158-1167. [PMID: 35026465 PMCID: PMC9124677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is recommended that children younger than 6 years of age avoid sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs); yet, 25% of toddlers and 45% of preschool-aged children consume SSBs on a given day, with the highest intakes reported among Hispanic and African-American children. OBJECTIVE To investigate characteristics that predominantly low-income Hispanic and African-American parents perceive to reflect a healthy beverage, and to examine the influence of these characteristics on parents' perceptions of the beverages they provide to their young children. DESIGN This study consisted of two activities: a qualitative activity where parents (n = 102) were asked to report what characteristics they perceive to reflect a healthy beverage and a quantitative activity where parents (n = 96) indicated the extent to which each of the reported characteristics influence parents' perceptions of the beverages they provide to their young children. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Hispanic and African-American parents of young children (younger than 6 years of age) were recruited from the District of Columbia metropolitan area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Beverage characteristics and influence scores. STATISICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Characteristics were categorized by the research team based on their perceived meaning. Perceived influence scores for each characteristic and category were compared across Hispanic and African-American parents using nonparametric, Mann-Whitney U tests, and false discovery rate adjustment was used to correct for multiple testing. RESULTS The characteristics perceived to be most influential included those pertaining to perceived beverage sugar and sweetener content, being natural, and containing certain nutrients. Characteristics such as being homemade, made with fruit, and containing vitamins were reported to be more influential among Hispanic parents compared with African-American parents. CONCLUSIONS Findings emphasize the need to address misperceptions about the healthfulness of beverages among Hispanic and African-American parents. Differences in the perceived influence of specific beverage characteristics across Hispanic and African-American parents underscore the importance of developing culturally relevant interventions to improve parents' beverage selection for their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison C Sylvetsky
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
| | - Son T Hoang
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Amanda J Visek
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Sabrina E Halberg
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Marjanna Smith
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Yasaman Salahmand
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Emily F Blake
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Yichen Jin
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Uriyoán Colón-Ramos
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Karina R Lora
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
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Musicus AA, Hua SV, Moran AJ, Duffy EW, Hall MG, Roberto CA, Dillman Carpentier FR, Sorscher S, Wootan MG, Smith Taillie L, Rimm EB. Front-of-package claims & imagery on fruit-flavored drinks and exposure by household demographics. Appetite 2022; 171:105902. [PMID: 34968559 PMCID: PMC8821268 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Young children regularly consume sugary fruit drinks, in part because parents may falsely believe they are healthful due to front-of-package (FOP) claims and imagery. The goal of this study was to assess: 1) the prevalence of FOP claims/imagery on fruit-flavored beverages purchased by U.S. households with 0-5-year-olds, and 2) proportional differences in beverages purchased with FOP claims/imagery across household demographic groups. A content analysis of FOP claims/imagery (e.g., nutrient claims, fruit imagery) on beverages (n = 1365) purchased by households with 0-5-year-olds was conducted by linking beverage sales with FOP marketing data. Results were merged with purchasing data from a nationally representative sample of households (FoodAPS), and survey-weighted logistic regression was used to assess differences in the proportions of 100% juices and fruit drinks with specific FOP claims/imagery purchased by household race/ethnicity, income, and SNAP/WIC participation. The most common claims on fruit-flavored beverages included nutrient claims (fruit drinks: 73%; 100% juices: 68%; flavored waters: 95%), which most commonly highlighted vitamin C (35-41% across beverage categories) and the absence of sugar (31-48%). Most beverages also contained implied-natural claims (fruit drinks: 60%; 100% juices: 64%; flavored waters: 95%) and natural imagery (fruit drinks: 97%; 100% juices: 96%; flavored waters: 73%). A large proportion of fruit drinks and 100% juices purchased by households across all demographic groups contained FOP claims and imagery, with a few minor differences between racial/ethnic groups. In conclusion, most fruit drinks, 100% juices, and flavored waters purchased by households with 0-5-year-olds contained FOP claims and imagery that may lead consumers to believe the beverages are healthy and natural. FDA regulations should ensure parents are not misled by this marketing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva A Musicus
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sophia V Hua
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily W Duffy
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health; Carolina Population Center, And Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Christina A Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Sorscher
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Hall MG, Lazard AJ, Higgins ICA, Blitstein JL, Duffy EW, Greenthal E, Sorscher S, Taillie LS. Nutrition-related claims lead parents to choose less healthy drinks for young children: a randomized trial in a virtual convenience store. Am J Clin Nutr 2022; 115:1144-1154. [PMID: 35040866 PMCID: PMC8971006 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including fruit drinks (i.e., fruit-flavored drinks containing added sugar), contributes to childhood obesity. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine whether nutrition-related claims on fruit drinks influence purchasing among parents and lead to misperceptions of healthfulness. METHODS We conducted an experiment in a virtual convenience store with 2219 parents of children ages 1-5 y. Parents were randomly assigned to view fruit drinks displaying 1 of 3 claims ("No artificial sweeteners," "100% Vitamin C," and "100% All Natural") or no claim (i.e., control group). Parents selected among each of 2 drinks for their young child: 1) a fruit drink or 100% juice (primary outcome), and 2) a fruit drink or water. RESULTS When choosing between a fruit drink and 100% juice, 45% of parents who viewed the fruit drink with the "No artificial sweeteners" claim, 51% who viewed the "100% Vitamin C" claim, and 54% who viewed the "100% All Natural" claim selected the fruit drink, compared with 32% in the no-claim control group (all P < 0.001). "No artificial sweeteners" (Cohen's d = 0.13, P < 0.05) and "100% All Natural" (d = 0.15, P < 0.05) claims increased the likelihood of parents choosing the fruit drink instead of water but "100% Vitamin C" did not (P = 0.06). All claims made parents more likely to incorrectly believe that the fruit drinks contained no added sugar and were 100% juice than the control (d ranged from 0.26 to 0.84, all P < 0.001), as assessed in a posttest survey. The impact of claims on selection of the fruit drink (compared with 100% juice) did not vary by any of the moderators examined (e.g., race/ethnicity, income; all moderation P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Nutrition-related claims led parents to choose less healthy beverages for their children and misled them about the healthfulness of fruit drinks. Labeling regulations could mitigate misleading marketing of fruit drinks.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04381481.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Isabella C A Higgins
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Emily W Duffy
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eva Greenthal
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sarah Sorscher
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Fleming-Milici F, Phaneuf L, Harris JL. Marketing of sugar-sweetened children's drinks and parents' misperceptions about benefits for young children. Matern Child Nutr 2022; 18:e13338. [PMID: 35199914 PMCID: PMC9218304 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite expert recommendations, US parents often serve sugar‐sweetened children's drinks, including sweetened fruit‐flavoured drinks and toddler milks, to young children. This qualitative research explored parents' understanding of common marketing tactics used to promote these drinks and whether they mislead parents to believe the drinks are healthy and/or necessary for children. We conducted nine focus groups in Washington, DC and Hartford, CT with parents of children (9–36 months) of diverse race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (N = 50). Semistructured discussions elicited parents' responses to four concepts designed to correct common misperceptions about toddler milks and sweetened fruit‐flavoured drinks (fruit drinks and flavoured waters) by providing information about drink ingredients and potentially misleading marketing tactics. Participants expressed widespread misperceptions about sweetened fruit‐flavoured drinks and toddler milks, including perceived healthfulness and benefits for children and confusion between sweetened and unsweetened drink categories (sweetened fruit‐flavoured drinks vs. juice, toddler milk vs. infant formula). They confirmed that common marketing strategies contributed to misperceptions, including front‐of‐package claims and marketing messages that imply benefits for children and/or hide problematic ingredients; cross‐branding and product extensions from trusted brands; side‐by‐side shelf placement at retailers; lower price than healthier products; and targeted marketing to children and parents. Some parents expressed anger about deceptive marketing and supported increased regulation and consumer education campaigns. Findings support the need for policies to address potentially misleading marketing of sweetened fruit‐flavoured drinks and toddler milks and revealed opportunities to reduce parents' provision of these drinks through countermarketing campaigns communicated via trusted sources. Marketing messages for sweetened fruit‐flavoured drinks and toddler milks can mislead parents to believe these sugar‐sweetened products are healthful options for young children. Parents described front‐of‐package label claims, images, and other marketing messages on sugar‐sweetened children's drinks as confusing, deceptive, and misleading. They also raised issues about targeted marketing to children and parents and lower prices for less‐healthy products. Findings support opportunities for countermarketing campaigns to correct misleading marketing messages and the need for government policies, such as restricting front‐of‐package claims and requiring consistent ingredient reporting, to assist parents in making healthier drink selections for their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Fleming-Milici
- Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Jennifer L Harris
- Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
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15
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Muzzioli L, Penzavecchia C, Donini LM, Pinto A. Are Front-of-Pack Labels a Health Policy Tool? Nutrients 2022; 14:771. [PMID: 35215421 PMCID: PMC8879020 DOI: 10.3390/nu14040771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To stem the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and obesity, front-of-pack labels (FOPLs) have been developed since 1989. Whereas several countries have already adopted one voluntarily, the European Community wants to harmonize an FOPL system that will be mandatory for all member states. The purpose of this narrative review is to describe what could be achieved or not by FOPLs, and to discuss if there is enough evidence to establish whether such labels are effective in modifying purchasing behavior, in directing individual dietary patterns towards a healthy and sustainable diet, and in reformulating food products by the food industry. Non-directive FOPLs, which are still under study, appear to be informative and well-accepted by consumers even if they require a cognitive effort. Conversely, directive FOPLs are supported by several studies, but they are mostly conducted in simulated scenarios and/or performed as retrospective studies. Nevertheless, directive FOPLs are rated as an intuitive tool, and they have demonstrated a high capacity to help consumers rank food products as more or less healthy. In conclusion, directive and non-directive FOPLs convey different messages. No FOPL individually can be considered exhaustive in relation to all the objectives outlined in this narrative review, and therefore, the development of a model synthesizing both messages is advisable. Many questions remain open, such as the possibility of reformulating pre-packaged products, how to deal with traditional products, and the impact on the incidence of NCDs and obesity. In the light of the complexity of factors that condition consumption choices and health, none of the current FOPLs can be considered a health policy tool on its own. The possibility of development remains open, but as the state of the art, these tools do not seem to be able to achieve all the European Community goals together. We can speculate that they could meet these goals only if they are integrated into a multi-tiered, structured health policy intervention.
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Parra-Murillo M, Lowery CM, Gómez LF, Mora-Plazas M, Taillie LS, Dillman Carpentier FR. Claims on Ready-to-Eat Cereals: Are Those With Claims Healthier? Front Nutr 2021; 8:770489. [PMID: 34901117 PMCID: PMC8662936 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.770489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The use of advertising content strategies that suggest consuming a product will confer nutrient- and health-related benefits influences household food purchasing decisions, which increases consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor products. We examined the presence of marketing claims regarding nutrient content, health and nature in ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal packages in relation to the products' nutritional quality. Methods: A cross-sectional content analysis was conducted on 178 RTE cereal packages available in the six largest supermarket chains in four Colombian cities from August to November 2018. The nutritional quality of products was assessed through the nutrient profile model established by the Chilean Law of Food Labeling and Advertising law. Results: All products sampled exceeded the regulation threshold for at least one nutrient of concern (e.g., high-in calories and/or sugar). The majority (66.3%) of packages had claims related to nature, 57.3% had nutrient-content claims, and 15.7% had health benefit or risk avoidance claims. Most products with nature, nutrient-content, and health claims were high in energy (99.2, 98.0, and 92.9%, respectively) and sugar (88.1, 87.3, and 92.9%, respectively). Conclusion: RTE cereal products offered in major Colombian supermarket chains are heavily marketed using nutrition- and nature-related claims. Nearly all products with claims are high in energy and sugar, despite the messages conveyed by the claims to consumers. Results support the implementation of mandatory regulations restricting claims on food and beverage products high in nutrients of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin M Lowery
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Luis F Gómez
- Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Mercedes Mora-Plazas
- Departamento de Nutrición Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Hock K, Acton RB, Jáuregui A, Vanderlee L, White CM, Hammond D. Experimental study of front-of-package nutrition labels' efficacy on perceived healthfulness of sugar-sweetened beverages among youth in six countries. Prev Med Rep 2021; 24:101577. [PMID: 34976639 PMCID: PMC8683942 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels have been proposed as a strategy to help limit sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among youth. However, few studies have examined the efficacy of FOP labels in youth across different countries. A between-group experiment was conducted to examine the impact of FOP labels (no-label control, Health Star Rating, 'High in' Octagon, Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), Traffic Light, or Nutri-Score) on perceived healthfulness of an SSB. The study was conducted online in November-December 2019 with 10,762 children aged 10-17 from six countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A binary logistic regression model tested the impacts of FOP label condition, country, and sociodemographic characteristics on participants' likelihood of perceiving the SSB to be Unhealthy. Compared to the control condition, participants in each of the five FOP label conditions were significantly more likely to perceive the SSB as Unhealthy (p < 0.002). The 'High in' Octagon label had the greatest impact on perceived healthfulness across five out of six countries, whereas the GDA and Nutri-Score labels demonstrated the lowest impact across all six countries. The impact of FOP labels was consistent across sex, age, race/ethnicity, and perceived income adequacy. FOP labels can significantly reduce the perceived healthfulness of SSBs among youth across multiple countries. The current study adds to the evidence that 'high in' labels, which use intuitive symbols such as the octagon 'stop sign', are the most efficacious labels for helping consumers identify foods high in nutrients of concern, including SSBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Hock
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rachel B. Acton
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Alejandra Jáuregui
- Centre for Health and Nutrition Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, MOR 62100, Mexico
| | - Lana Vanderlee
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Christine M. White
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - David Hammond
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Ku H, Chi C, Ling M. Design of an IOTA Tangle-Based Intelligent Food Safety Service Platform for Bubble Tea. Processes (Basel) 2021; 9:1937. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9111937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many food safety incidents have occurred in the world in the past 20 years, causing major threats and harm to human life and health. Each country or region has established different food safety management systems (FSMSs) in response, to increase food safety and to reduce food safety risks. Hence, it is important to develop an FSMS service platform with convenience, consistency, effectiveness, scalability, and lightweight computing. The aim of this study is to design and propose an IOTA Tangle-based intelligent food safety service platform for bubble tea—called IF4BT—which modularizes and integrates hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) principles to increase data transparency. The deep learning inference engine is based on long short-term memory and Siamese networks to check and extract significant rare data of high-risk factors, exception factors, and noises, depending on daily check and audit. IF4BT can ensure the correctness of the information of food manufacturers, so as to increase food safety and to reduce food safety issues such as allergen cross-contamination, food expiration, food defense, and food fraud.
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Martini D, Del Bo’ C, Serafini M, Porrini M, Pellegrini N, Angelino D. Breakfast Cereals Carrying Fibre-Related Claims: Do They Have a Better Nutritional Composition Than Those without Such Claims? Results from the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) Study. Foods 2021; 10:foods10092225. [PMID: 34574336 PMCID: PMC8467444 DOI: 10.3390/foods10092225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrition claims (NCs) on food packaging are, from one side, an informative tool about the nutritional characteristics of the product. From another side, they could bias the consumer in perceiving such products as healthier than those without claims. In order to investigate whether products with NCs have a better nutritional composition that those without claims, the present study aimed to compare the nutrition facts of 376 breakfast cereals, with and without fibre-related NCs, available in 13 Italian retailer online stores. Among these products, 73 items claimed to be a "source of fibre" and 109 "high in fibre". In addition to a higher fibre content, products "high in fibre" showed higher protein and fat contents but lower carbohydrate, sugar and salt contents compared to both "source of fibre" and without fibre-related NC items. Overall, a high variability in nutritional values was also observed within products with the same type of fibre-related NC. In conclusion, the results suggested that fibre-related NCs should not be considered as a marker of a better nutritional composition of breakfast cereals, and thus consumers should be educated to carefully read the entire nutritional information reported in the food labelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Martini
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Cristian Del Bo’
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Mauro Serafini
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.S.); (D.A.)
| | - Marisa Porrini
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Nicoletta Pellegrini
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-043-255-8183
| | - Donato Angelino
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.S.); (D.A.)
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Hall MG, Lazard AJ, Grummon AH, Higgins ICA, Bercholz M, Richter APC, Taillie LS. Designing warnings for sugary drinks: A randomized experiment with Latino parents and non-Latino parents. Prev Med 2021; 148:106562. [PMID: 33878350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Sugary drink warnings are a promising policy for reducing sugary drink consumption, but it remains unknown how to design warnings to maximize their impact overall and among diverse population groups, including parents of Latino ethnicity and parents with low English use. In 2019, we randomized US parents of children ages 2-12 (n = 1078, 48% Latino ethnicity, 13% low English use) to one topic (one of four warnings, or a neutral control), which they viewed on three designs (text-only, icon, and graphic) to assess reactions to the various warnings on sugary drinks. All warning topics were perceived as more effective than the control (average differential effect [ADE] ranged from 1.77 to 1.84 [5-point Likert scale], all p < .001). All warning topics also led to greater thinking about harms of sugary drinks (all p < .001) and lower purchase intentions (all p < .01). Compared to text-only warnings, icon (ADE = 0.18) and graphic warnings (ADE = 0.30) elicited higher perceived message effectiveness, as well as greater thinking about the harms of sugary drinks, lower perceived healthfulness, and lower purchase intentions (all p < .001). The impact of icon warnings (vs. text warnings) was stronger for parents with low English use, compared to those with high English use (p = .024). Similarly, the impact of icon (vs. text warnings) was stronger for Latino parents than non-Latino parents (p = .034). This experimental study indicates that many warning topics hold promise for behavior change and that including images with warnings could increase warning efficacy, particularly among Latino parents and parents with low English use. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04382599.
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