Warning Labels Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake among College Students

Cindy W Leung; Julia A Wolfson; Robert Hsu; Keith Soster; Steve Mangan; Jennifer Falbe

doi:10.1093/jn/nxaa305

Warning Labels Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake among College Students

J Nutr. 2021 Jan 4;151(1):179-185. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa305.

Authors

Cindy W Leung¹, Julia A Wolfson^{1

2}, Robert Hsu², Keith Soster³, Steve Mangan³, Jennifer Falbe⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
² Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
³ Michigan Dining, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁴ Human Development and Family Studies Program, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.

Abstract

Background: Health-related warning labels may reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), but the effectiveness of such labels in real-world settings is not well established.

Objectives: We investigated the influence of warning labels on SSB intake among college students at a large public Midwestern university.

Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental intervention study among 840 undergraduate students recruited from 3 dining halls on 1 university campus. One dining hall was selected as the intervention (I) site, whereas the other dining halls served as control (C) sites. In January 2019, warning labels were posted on SSB dispensers at the I site. All students reported their beverage intake using a modified beverage frequency questionnaire 2 mo before and 2 mo after the warning label implementation. Generalized linear models examined the influence of the warning labels on SSB consumption at the I site compared with the C sites, adjusting for students' sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: In the sample, 68% were aged 17-18 y old at baseline, and 51% identified as female. From baseline to follow-up, there was a 19% decrease in SSB intake at the I site, compared with a 5% decrease at the C sites (P = 0.049 comparing I with C). This difference was driven by significant decreases in the intakes of fruit-flavored drinks, sweetened teas, and flavored milk at the I site compared with the C sites. Although not an SSB, 100% fruit juce consumption decreased 21% at the I site, compared with a 1% increase at the C sites (P = 0.01 comparing I with C). No significant differences were observed in the intakes of soda, energy drinks, sweetened coffees, and nonsugary drinks at the I site compared with the C sites.

Conclusions: Warning labels were effective in reducing SSB intake among college students, particularly for fruit-flavored drinks, sweetened teas, and flavored milk.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04435145.

Keywords: college students; intervention; quasi-experimental; sugar-sweetened beverages; warning label.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Carbonated Beverages
Diet Surveys*
Female
Food Labeling*
Humans
Male
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages*
Universities*
Young Adult

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04435145

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

Grants and funding