The Efficacy of Front-of-package Labelling Schemes: an Experimental Study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cardiovascular Diseases; Diet Modification; Nutrition
• Interventions: Other: Nutrition Rating System - Traffic Light; Other: Nutrition Rating System - Health Star; Other: Nutrition Rating System - Warning Label; Device: Smartphone application FoodFlip Device®

• Registration Number: NCT03290118
• Lead Sponsor: University of Toronto

Brief Summary

This is an online study that aims to test the effectiveness of Interpretative Nutrition Rating Systems (INRS) such as the Health Star Rating System (HSR or Star System), traffic light system and warning labels (high sodium, saturated fat and sugar) proposed by Health Canada. The study will incorporate the use of a Smartphone application (app), FoodFlip®, to help educate consumers on each INRS prior to their exposure on food packages.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2017-09-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-09-18
• Study Start: 2017-09-20
• Study First Posted: 2017-09-21
• Primary Completion: 2017-10-09
• Study Completion: 2017-10-09
• Status Verified: 2018-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-10-03
• Last Update Posted: 2018-10-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2008

Inclusion Criteria

• speak English as a primary language
• reside in Canada excluding the Northern Territories
• are 18 years or over
• provide informed consent
• do at least some of the household grocery shopping
• own a smartphone (version iPhone 3 or later or Android)
• are able to complete the survey on a minimum screen size of 9.7 inches.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Traffic Light	Nutrition Rating System - Traffic Light	Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages with traffic light front of pack labels only. Intervention is the Nutrition Rating System - Traffic Light
Traffic Light	Smartphone application FoodFlip Device®	Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages with traffic light front of pack labels only. Intervention is the Nutrition Rating System - Traffic Light
Star System	Nutrition Rating System - Health Star	Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages with health star rating front of pack labels only. Intervention is the Nutrition Rating System - Health Star Rating
Star System	Smartphone application FoodFlip Device®	Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages with health star rating front of pack labels only. Intervention is the Nutrition Rating System - Health Star Rating
Warning Label	Nutrition Rating System - Warning Label	Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages with warning front of pack labels only. Intervention is the Nutrition Rating System - Warning Labels
Warning Label	Smartphone application FoodFlip Device®	Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages with warning front of pack labels only. Intervention is the Nutrition Rating System - Warning Labels

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comprehension task - ability to identify unhealthy products (survey measure)	1 day (assessed immediately after app task and while viewing products with labelling system applied	The participant's ability to identify the least healthy product in a group of products in a group of 5 products in a task rating 5 products with varying levels of 'healthiness' according to modified FSANZ criteria. Question wording: Please rank these products in terms of healthiness where 1 is the"most healthy" and 5 is the "least healthy" cereal
Comprehension task - ability to identify healthy products (survey measure)	1 day (assessed immediately after app task and while viewing products with labelling system applied	The participant's ability to identify the most healthy product in a group of 5 products in a task rating 5 products with varying levels of 'healthiness' according to modified FSANZ criteria. Question wording: Please rank these products in terms of healthiness where 1 is the"most healthy" and 5 is the "least healthy" cereal

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comprehension task - ability to identify the overall 'healthiness' of a product (survey measure - Likert scale)	1 day (assessed immediately after app task and while viewing products with labelling system applied	The participant's ability to accurately rate a product as more or less healthy according to the type and amount of nutritional information on the product, using a 7 point Likert scale. Question wording: How healthy is this (product) for you?
Hypothetical purchasing of products (survey measure - Likert scale)	1 day (assessed immediately after app task and while viewing products with labelling system applied	The participant's perceived likelihood of purchasing a product according to the type and amount of nutritional information on the product, using a 7 point Likert scale.; Question wording: Assume this product has a cost similar to other (product category). If you were shopping for (product), how likely would you be to purchase this one?

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Toronto; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada