High in Front-of-package Label Pretest
- Conditions
- Understanding of Food Nutrient Content
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Front-of-package label
- Registration Number
- NCT06227507
- Lead Sponsor
- University of California, Davis
- Brief Summary
The goal of this trial is to understand which of five "High In" front-of-package label designs is most effective at helping consumers identify the healthiest products (i.e., products that are high in the fewest number of nutrients of concern: added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat).
- Detailed Description
The objective of this aim is to assess which of five "High In" front-of-package label (FOPL) designs is most effective at helping consumers identify the healthiest products (i.e., products that are high in the fewest number of nutrients of concern: added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat). The investigators will use a between-subjects randomized experiment to assess the primary outcome. Participants will be randomized to one of five label conditions modeled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's draft "High In" FOPL designs: 1) No Icon; 2) Magnifying Glass; 3) Exclamation Mark; 4) Exclamation Mark with multiple labels; 5) Exclamation Mark with Black Background.
The primary outcome is correct identification of the healthiest product, defined as the product that is high in the fewest nutrients of concern, including added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat (percent correct for each condition). Secondary outcomes include correct identification of which product is least healthy; which product(s) are high in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium (3 separate questions); and perceived message effectiveness (PME) of the different labels.
Logit models will be used to compare proportions in each condition that correctly identified the items (each condition compared to every other condition). For continuous outcomes (e.g., knowledge, PME scale), the investigators will use linear regression models regressing the outcome on an indicator for experimental condition. A critical alpha 0.05 will be used, and statistical tests will be two-tailed. The Bonferroni Holm correction will be used for analyses comparing conditions 2-5 to each other for each outcome (6 comparisons).
The investigators will also measure nutrition literacy, and assess moderation on the primary outcome by nutrition literacy (continuous) and highest education attainment (Bachelor's Degree or higher vs. less than Bachelor's Degree).
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 4052
- Equal or greater than 18 years of age
- Less than 100 years of age
- English-speaking
- U.S. residents
- Participants will reflect the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and age
- Failing the attention check question
- Completing the survey in less than 33% of the median completion time
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Exclamation Mark Front-of-package label Participants will be shown 3 frozen meals at once; each product will be high in 1, 2, or 3 nutrients of concern (added sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat) and will be labeled as such with a rectangular "high in" front-of-package label. The label will contain "high in" and nutrient text, along with an exclamation mark icon. No icon Front-of-package label Participants will be shown 3 frozen meals at once; each product will be high in 1, 2, or 3 nutrients of concern (added sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat) and will be labeled as such with a rectangular "high in" front-of-package label. The label will solely contain "high in" and nutrient text with no icon. Magnifying glass Front-of-package label Participants will be shown 3 frozen meals at once; each product will be high in 1, 2, or 3 nutrients of concern (added sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat) and will be labeled as such with a rectangular "high in" front-of-package label. The label will contain "high in" and nutrient text, along with a magnifying glass icon. Exclamation Mark with Black Background Front-of-package label Participants will be shown 3 frozen meals at once; each product will be high in 1, 2, or 3 nutrients of concern (added sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat) and will be labeled as such with a rectangular "high in" front-of-package label. The label will contain "high in" and nutrient text, along with an exclamation mark icon. The background of the "high in" text will be black, and the "high in" text will be white. Exclamation Mark with multiple labels Front-of-package label Participants will be shown 3 frozen meals at once; each product will be high in 1, 2, or 3 nutrients of concern (added sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat) and will be labeled as such with 1, 2, or 3 rectangular "high in" front-of-package labels, one for each specific nutrient of concern. Each label will contain "high in" and nutrient text, along with an exclamation mark icon.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Identification of healthiest product - dichotomous variable "Correct" (Selected product that is high in only 1 nutrient of concern) or "Incorrect" (otherwise) During a ~10 minute online survey Measured with: "Which of the products below is the healthiest in terms of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat content? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting consumption of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat."
There is no formal name for this measure/scale.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Identification of least healthy product - dichotomous variable "Correct" (Selected product that is high in all 3 nutrients of concern) or "Incorrect" (otherwise) During a ~10 minute online survey Measured with: "Which of the products below is the least healthy in terms of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat content? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting consumption of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat."
Identification of high-sodium product(s) - dichotomous variable "Correct" (Selected all products that are high in sodium) or "Incorrect" (otherwise) During a ~10 minute online survey Measured with: "Which product(s) below are high in sodium? Select all that apply."
Identification of high-saturated-fat product(s) - dichotomous variable "Correct" (Selected all products that are high in saturated fat) or "Incorrect" (otherwise) During a ~10 minute online survey Measured with: "Which product(s) below are high in saturated fat? Select all that apply."
Identification of high-added-sugars product(s) - dichotomous variable "Correct" (Selected all products that are high in added sugars) or "Incorrect" (otherwise) During a ~10 minute online survey Measured with: "Which product(s) below are high in added sugars? Select all that apply."
Perceived Message Effectiveness of label: Discouragement - continuous variable from a 3-item scale in which each item uses a 1-5 response scale During a ~10 minute online survey Measured with discouragement item from University of North Carolina Perceived Message Effectiveness Scale: How much does this label discourage you from wanting to eat this product? Response options include Not at all, A little bit, Somewhat, Quite a bit, and A great deal.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of California, Davis
🇺🇸Davis, California, United States