Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study
Abstract Background Nutrition facts tables (NFTs) on pre-packaged foods are widely used but poorly understood by consumers. Several countries have implemented front-of-package labels (FOPLs) that provide simpler, easier to use nutrition information. In October 2020, Mexico revised its FOPL regulatio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01455-9 |
| _version_ | 1827952513947533312 |
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| author | David Hammond Rachel B. Acton Vicki L. Rynard Christine M. White Lana Vanderlee Jasmin Bhawra Marcela Reyes Alejandra Jáuregui Jean Adams Christina A. Roberto Gary Sacks James F. Thrasher |
| author_facet | David Hammond Rachel B. Acton Vicki L. Rynard Christine M. White Lana Vanderlee Jasmin Bhawra Marcela Reyes Alejandra Jáuregui Jean Adams Christina A. Roberto Gary Sacks James F. Thrasher |
| author_sort | David Hammond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Nutrition facts tables (NFTs) on pre-packaged foods are widely used but poorly understood by consumers. Several countries have implemented front-of-package labels (FOPLs) that provide simpler, easier to use nutrition information. In October 2020, Mexico revised its FOPL regulations to replace industry-based Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) FOPLs with ‘Warning’ FOPLs, which display stop signs on foods high in nutrients of concern, such as sugar and sodium. This study examined self-reported awareness, use, and understanding of NFTs and FOPLs among young people in six countries with different FOPLs, with an additional focus on changes before and after implementation of Mexico’s FOPL warning policy. Methods A ‘natural experiment’ was conducted using ‘pre-post’ national surveys in Mexico and five separate comparison countries: countries with no FOPL policy (Canada and the US), countries with voluntary FOPL policies (Traffic Lights in the UK and Health Star Ratings in Australia), and one country (Chile) with mandatory FOPL ‘warnings' (like Mexico). Population-based surveys were conducted with 10 to 17-year-olds in 2019 (n = 10,823) and in 2020 (n = 11,713). Logistic regressions examined within- and between-countries changes in self-reported awareness, use, and understanding of NFTs and FOPLs. Results Across countries, half to three quarters of respondents reported seeing NFTs ‘often’ or ‘all the time’, approximately one quarter reported using NFTs when deciding what to eat or buy, and one third reported NFTs were ‘easy to understand’, with few changes between 2019 and 2020. In 2020, awareness, use and self-reported understanding of the Warning FOPLs in Mexico were higher than for NFTs in all countries, and compared with GDA FOPLs in Mexico (p < .001). Mandated Warning FOPLs in Mexico and Chile had substantially higher levels of awareness, use, and understanding than the voluntary Traffic Lights in the UK and Health Star Ratings in Australia (p < .001 for all). Conclusions Mandated easy-to-understand FOPLs are associated with substantially greater levels of self-reported awareness, use and understanding at the population-level compared to NFT and GDA-based labeling systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:58:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54d46e9a48f9482a8423eb79dd1218ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:58:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-54d46e9a48f9482a8423eb79dd1218ed2023-05-07T11:24:40ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682023-05-0120111310.1186/s12966-023-01455-9Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy StudyDavid Hammond0Rachel B. Acton1Vicki L. Rynard2Christine M. White3Lana Vanderlee4Jasmin Bhawra5Marcela Reyes6Alejandra Jáuregui7Jean Adams8Christina A. Roberto9Gary Sacks10James F. Thrasher11School of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooÉcole de Nutrition, Centre de Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université LavalSchool of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan UniversityInstituto de Nutrición Y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de ChileCenter for Health and Nutrition Research, Instituto Nacional de Salud PúblicaCentre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of CambridgeDepartment of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaGlobal Obesity Centre, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin UniversityDepartment of Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaAbstract Background Nutrition facts tables (NFTs) on pre-packaged foods are widely used but poorly understood by consumers. Several countries have implemented front-of-package labels (FOPLs) that provide simpler, easier to use nutrition information. In October 2020, Mexico revised its FOPL regulations to replace industry-based Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) FOPLs with ‘Warning’ FOPLs, which display stop signs on foods high in nutrients of concern, such as sugar and sodium. This study examined self-reported awareness, use, and understanding of NFTs and FOPLs among young people in six countries with different FOPLs, with an additional focus on changes before and after implementation of Mexico’s FOPL warning policy. Methods A ‘natural experiment’ was conducted using ‘pre-post’ national surveys in Mexico and five separate comparison countries: countries with no FOPL policy (Canada and the US), countries with voluntary FOPL policies (Traffic Lights in the UK and Health Star Ratings in Australia), and one country (Chile) with mandatory FOPL ‘warnings' (like Mexico). Population-based surveys were conducted with 10 to 17-year-olds in 2019 (n = 10,823) and in 2020 (n = 11,713). Logistic regressions examined within- and between-countries changes in self-reported awareness, use, and understanding of NFTs and FOPLs. Results Across countries, half to three quarters of respondents reported seeing NFTs ‘often’ or ‘all the time’, approximately one quarter reported using NFTs when deciding what to eat or buy, and one third reported NFTs were ‘easy to understand’, with few changes between 2019 and 2020. In 2020, awareness, use and self-reported understanding of the Warning FOPLs in Mexico were higher than for NFTs in all countries, and compared with GDA FOPLs in Mexico (p < .001). Mandated Warning FOPLs in Mexico and Chile had substantially higher levels of awareness, use, and understanding than the voluntary Traffic Lights in the UK and Health Star Ratings in Australia (p < .001 for all). Conclusions Mandated easy-to-understand FOPLs are associated with substantially greater levels of self-reported awareness, use and understanding at the population-level compared to NFT and GDA-based labeling systems.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01455-9Nutrition labelingFood policyComprehensionAdolescent |
| spellingShingle | David Hammond Rachel B. Acton Vicki L. Rynard Christine M. White Lana Vanderlee Jasmin Bhawra Marcela Reyes Alejandra Jáuregui Jean Adams Christina A. Roberto Gary Sacks James F. Thrasher Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Nutrition labeling Food policy Comprehension Adolescent |
| title | Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study |
| title_full | Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study |
| title_fullStr | Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study |
| title_short | Awareness, use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries: findings from the 2019 – 2020 International Food Policy Study |
| title_sort | awareness use and understanding of nutrition labels among children and youth from six countries findings from the 2019 2020 international food policy study |
| topic | Nutrition labeling Food policy Comprehension Adolescent |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01455-9 |
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