Do Warning Labels Decrease Soda Purchasing?
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Interventions
- Other: Label Condition
- Registration Number
- NCT02744859
- Lead Sponsor
- Harvard University
- Brief Summary
Investigators will run a field study evaluating the impact different labels have on the purchasing of sugar sweetened beverages. This field study will take place in a hospital cafeteria.
- Detailed Description
In a hospital cafeteria investigators will label all sugar sweetened beverages to evaluate their impact on purchasing.
Investigators will collect baseline data for two weeks on beverage sales at the hospital cafe. Following this data collection investigators will introduce a calorie label which reads "Each beverage contains \[lower calorie bound\]-\[upper calorie bound\] calories per container. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice but calorie needs vary." These signs will be posted for two weeks and investigators will collect sales data. Following this intervention investigators will remove the signs and collect sales data for two weeks. At the end of this no label period, investigators will introduce the second intervention, a warning label. This label will read "WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay." This label will also be posted for two weeks and investigators will collect sales data. Investigators will then remove these signs and collect sales data for two weeks. Finally, investigators will introduce the third intervention: a warning label with graphic labels. This label will read "WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay." However this sign will also include a visual depiction of each health consequence. Investigators will collect sales data for this two week period. After this intervention investigators will collect sales data for an additional two weeks and then administer a brief survey to cafeteria customers to better understand their impressions of the labels.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 6000
- Customers of the hospital cafeteria.
- None
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Calorie Label Label Condition Labels will read "\[lower calorie bound\] - \[upper calorie bound\] calories per container. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice but calorie needs vary." Warning Label with Graphics Label Condition Labels will read "WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay." These labels will also have graphic depictions of each health condition above the corresponding text. Warning Label Label Condition Labels will read "WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay."
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Sweetened beverages purchased 2 week condition blocks We will sum the total number of sugar sweetened beverages sold in each condition using the Universal Product Code (UPC) for bottled beverages and syrup weight for fountain beverages.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Changes in types of beverages purchased 2 week condition blocks We will examine any changes in the types of beverages purchased during each condition, using the Universal Product Code (UPC) for bottled beverages and syrup weight for fountain beverages. For example, if sugar-sweetened beverages sales decrease, do purchases of water increase?
Unsweetened beverages purchased 2 week condition blocks We will sum the total number of unsweetened beverages sold in each condition using the Universal Product Code (UPC) for bottled beverages and syrup weight for fountain beverages.
Beverage calories sold 2 week condition blocks We will calculate the number of beverage calories sold during each condition, using the Universal Product Code (UPC) for bottled beverages, syrup weight for fountain beverages, and the products' nutritional information.