Objective understanding of the Nutri-score front-of-pack label by European consumers and its effect on food choices: an online experimental study

Manon Egnell; Zenobia Talati; Pilar Galan; Valentina A Andreeva; Stefanie Vandevijvere; Marion Gombaud; Louise Dréano-Trécant; Serge Hercberg; Simone Pettigrew; Chantal Julia

doi:10.1186/s12966-020-01053-z

Objective understanding of the Nutri-score front-of-pack label by European consumers and its effect on food choices: an online experimental study

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020 Nov 19;17(1):146. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01053-z.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Inserm, Inrae, Cnam, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Epidemiology and Statistics Research Centre -University of Paris (CRESS), Bobigny, 93000, France. m.egnell@eren.smbh.univ-paris13.fr.
² School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
³ Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Inserm, Inrae, Cnam, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Epidemiology and Statistics Research Centre -University of Paris (CRESS), Bobigny, 93000, France.
⁴ Scientific Institute of Public Health (Sciensano), J.Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
⁵ Department of Public Health, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine-Saint-Denis (AP-HP), Bobigny, 93000, France.
⁶ The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown NSW, Sydney, 2042, Australia.

Abstract

Background: The effectiveness of Front-of-Pack nutrition Labels (FoPLs) may be influenced by national context. In light of the ongoing efforts to harmonize FoPLs across Europe, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of five FoPLs (Health Star Rating system, Multiple Traffic Lights, Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes, Warning symbols) on consumer understanding and food choice in 12 European countries.

Methods: In 2018-2019, for three food categories, approximately 1000 participants per country were asked to select which food they would prefer to purchase between three products with distinct nutritional quality profiles, and then to rank the products by nutritional quality. Participants (N = 12,391 in total) completed these tasks first with no FoPL and then, after randomization to one of the five FoPLs, with a FoPL on the food packages. Associations between FoPLs and change in (i) nutritional quality of food choices and (ii) ability to correctly rank the products by nutritional quality were assessed with logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics of participants, conducted overall and by country.

Findings: Compared with the Reference Intakes, the Nutri-Score (OR = 3.23[2.75-3.81]; p < 0.0001), followed by the Multiple Traffic Lights (OR = 1.68[1.42-1.98]; p < 0.0001), was the most effective FoPL in helping consumers identify the foods' nutritional quality, overall and in each of the 12 countries. Differences between FoPLs regarding food choice modifications were smaller, but the effect of the Nutri-Score seemed slightly higher in eliciting healthier food choices overall compared with the Reference Intakes, followed by the Warning symbols, the Multiple Traffic Lights and the Health Star Rating system.

Interpretation: In the context of FoPL harmonization in Europe, these findings from an online experiment provide insights into the Nutri-Score's effectiveness on European consumers.

Keywords: European consumers; Food choices; Front-of-pack nutrition label; Objective understanding.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Consumer Behavior*
Europe
Food Labeling*
Food Preferences / physiology*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Nutritive Value / physiology*