Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children
Abstract Objective This study evaluates the effects of traffic light (TL) nutritional label attributes on children’s food choices. Data were collected from a survey of 1179 Ecuadorian students attending public middle and high school in three major cities in the country’s southern region (Machala, Lo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Agricultural and Food Economics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-023-00280-9 |
| _version_ | 1827635847103512576 |
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| author | Tania Cabrera Carlos E. Carpio Oscar Sarasty Susan E. Watson María-Susana Gonzalez |
| author_facet | Tania Cabrera Carlos E. Carpio Oscar Sarasty Susan E. Watson María-Susana Gonzalez |
| author_sort | Tania Cabrera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective This study evaluates the effects of traffic light (TL) nutritional label attributes on children’s food choices. Data were collected from a survey of 1179 Ecuadorian students attending public middle and high school in three major cities in the country’s southern region (Machala, Loja, and Zamora). The survey instrument included two sets of choice experiments: one with yogurt products and the other with soft drinks (sodas and juices). In the choice scenarios, children were presented with two products that differed in price and the TL label colors for sugar, salt, and fat. Children’s product selections in the choice experiments were analyzed using mixed logit models. The results indicate that labels affect food choices. Additionally, children are willing to pay increasing premium levels for products with yellow, green, and “does not contain” labels compared to products with red labels. Overall, the study’s findings offer evidence that TL labels are effective in helping children make food choices consistent with their preferences for food products with TL labels representing healthier alternatives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:33:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6597f142c84b40a2a72f6e9f39bc7d19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-7532 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:33:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural and Food Economics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6597f142c84b40a2a72f6e9f39bc7d192023-11-26T12:09:07ZengSpringerOpenAgricultural and Food Economics2193-75322023-09-0111112410.1186/s40100-023-00280-9Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among childrenTania Cabrera0Carlos E. Carpio1Oscar Sarasty2Susan E. Watson3María-Susana Gonzalez4Universidad Nacional de LojaDepartment of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech UniversityDepartment of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech UniversityDepartment of Applied Arts and Sciences, University of North TexasUniversidad Nacional de LojaAbstract Objective This study evaluates the effects of traffic light (TL) nutritional label attributes on children’s food choices. Data were collected from a survey of 1179 Ecuadorian students attending public middle and high school in three major cities in the country’s southern region (Machala, Loja, and Zamora). The survey instrument included two sets of choice experiments: one with yogurt products and the other with soft drinks (sodas and juices). In the choice scenarios, children were presented with two products that differed in price and the TL label colors for sugar, salt, and fat. Children’s product selections in the choice experiments were analyzed using mixed logit models. The results indicate that labels affect food choices. Additionally, children are willing to pay increasing premium levels for products with yellow, green, and “does not contain” labels compared to products with red labels. Overall, the study’s findings offer evidence that TL labels are effective in helping children make food choices consistent with their preferences for food products with TL labels representing healthier alternatives.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-023-00280-9NutritionLabelingChoice experimentChildrenWillingness to payEcuador |
| spellingShingle | Tania Cabrera Carlos E. Carpio Oscar Sarasty Susan E. Watson María-Susana Gonzalez Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children Agricultural and Food Economics Nutrition Labeling Choice experiment Children Willingness to pay Ecuador |
| title | Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children |
| title_full | Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children |
| title_fullStr | Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children |
| title_short | Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children |
| title_sort | traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children |
| topic | Nutrition Labeling Choice experiment Children Willingness to pay Ecuador |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-023-00280-9 |
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