Manon Egnell1, Pilar Galan1, Nathalie J Farpour-Lambert2, Zenobia Talati3, Simone Pettigrew4, Serge Hercberg1,5, Chantal Julia1,5. 1. Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Sorbonne Paris Cité Epidemiology and Statistics Research Center (CRESS), U1153 Inserm, U1125, Inra, Cnam, Paris 13 University, Bobigny, France. 2. Department of Primary Care, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. School of Psychology, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia. 4. The Georges Institute, Sidney, Australia. 5. Public health department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Switzerland, like other high-income countries, is facing a major public health challenge with the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Discussions are currently on-going in Switzerland regarding the implementation of a Front-of-Pack nutrition label (FoPL) as a public health measure to guide consumers towards healthier food choices, and the Nutri-Score represents an alternative supported by multiple actors. To date, no studies have investigated the performance of the Nutri-Score among Swiss consumers. This study aimed to compare the response of Swiss consumers to five FoPLs (Health Star Rating system, Multiple Traffic Lights, Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes and Warning symbol) in terms of perception and understanding of these labels and effects on food choices. METHODS: In 2019, 1,088 Swiss consumers were recruited and asked to select one product from among a set of three foods with different nutritional profiles and then classify the products within the sets according to their nutritional quality. Tasks were performed in situations without a label and then with one of the five FoPLs-depending on the group in which they were randomized-on the pack. Finally, participants were questioned on their perceptions regarding the label to which they were exposed. RESULTS: All FoPLs were favorably perceived, with marginal differences between FoPLs. The Nutri-Score demonstrated the highest percentage of improvement in food choices and the highest overall performance in helping consumers rank the products according to their nutritional quality. CONCLUSION: Overall, the Nutri-Score was the most efficient FoPL in informing Swiss consumers of the nutritional quality of food products, and as such could be a useful tool to improve food choices and reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Switzerland.
BACKGROUND: Switzerland, like other high-income countries, is facing a major public health challenge with the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Discussions are currently on-going in Switzerland regarding the implementation of a Front-of-Pack nutrition label (FoPL) as a public health measure to guide consumers towards healthier food choices, and the Nutri-Score represents an alternative supported by multiple actors. To date, no studies have investigated the performance of the Nutri-Score among Swiss consumers. This study aimed to compare the response of Swiss consumers to five FoPLs (Health Star Rating system, Multiple Traffic Lights, Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes and Warning symbol) in terms of perception and understanding of these labels and effects on food choices. METHODS: In 2019, 1,088 Swiss consumers were recruited and asked to select one product from among a set of three foods with different nutritional profiles and then classify the products within the sets according to their nutritional quality. Tasks were performed in situations without a label and then with one of the five FoPLs-depending on the group in which they were randomized-on the pack. Finally, participants were questioned on their perceptions regarding the label to which they were exposed. RESULTS: All FoPLs were favorably perceived, with marginal differences between FoPLs. The Nutri-Score demonstrated the highest percentage of improvement in food choices and the highest overall performance in helping consumers rank the products according to their nutritional quality. CONCLUSION: Overall, the Nutri-Score was the most efficient FoPL in informing Swiss consumers of the nutritional quality of food products, and as such could be a useful tool to improve food choices and reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Switzerland.
Authors: Klaus L Fuchs; Jie Lian; Leonard Michels; Simon Mayer; Enrico Toniato; Verena Tiefenbeck Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-05-13 Impact factor: 6.706
Authors: Mercedes Mora-Plazas; Isabella Carolyn Aida Higgins; Luis Fernando Gomez; Marissa Hall; Maria Fernanda Parra; Maxime Bercholz; Nandita Murukutla; Lindsey Smith Taillie Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-02-10 Impact factor: 3.240