The Efficacy of Front-of-package Labelling Schemes: an Experimental Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Toronto
- Enrollment
- 2,008
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Comprehension task - ability to identify unhealthy products (survey measure)
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
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
Arms & Interventions
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
Intervention: Smartphone application FoodFlip Device® (Device)
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
Intervention: Nutrition Rating System - Traffic Light (Other)
Star System
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
Intervention: Nutrition Rating System - Health Star (Other)
Star System
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
Intervention: Smartphone application FoodFlip Device® (Device)
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
Intervention: Nutrition Rating System - Warning Label (Other)
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
Intervention: Smartphone application FoodFlip Device® (Device)
Control
Participants in this group will be provided with a survey that shows the food and beverage packages without any front of pack labels.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Comprehension task - ability to identify unhealthy products (survey measure)
Time Frame: 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)
Time Frame: 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 Outcomes
- 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)
- Hypothetical purchasing of products (survey measure - Likert scale)(1 day (assessed immediately after app task and while viewing products with labelling system applied)
Investigators
Mary L'Abbe
Chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences
University of Toronto