Food Labelling: Case Studies | World Obesity Federation

Food Labelling: Case Studies

Evaluation of food labelling usefulness for consumers

Through a survey to assess the efficacy of information included in food labelling, the study aimed "to understand the usefulness of the information provided for consumers." 

Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels: An International Comparative Experimental Study across 12 Countries

The aim of this study was "to assess consumers’ ability to understand five Front-of-pack labels [Health Star Rating system, Multiple Traffic Lights, Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes, and Warning symbol] in 12 different countries." 

An 11‐country study to benchmark the implementation of recommended nutrition policies by national governments using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index, 2015‐2018

This study aimed to "(1) compare the extent of policy implementation to create healthy food environments by national governments compared with international best practices across 11 countries in different regions globally and (2) to evaluate the Food-EPI tool and process and make recommendations for its future use and implementation." 

Setting Policy Priorities for Front-of-Pack Health Claims and Symbols in the European Union: Expert Consensus Built by Using a Delphi Method

This study "prioritizes qualitative insights using quantitative data. Key findings from earlier studies within the four CLYMBOL work areas formed the basis for formulating evidence-based policy recommendations and communication guidelines." 

Consumer evaluation, use and health relevance of health claims in the European Union

This study aimed "to provide an overview of consumers’ evaluations on familiarity, understandability and credibility for a list of 17 authorised health claims in the European Union; to profile health claim user segments; and to describe the relationship between specific health claim use and health relevance." 

Regulating health and nutrition claims in the UK using a nutrient profile model: an explorative modelled health impact assessment

The current study aimed to respond to two research questions:(1) What would be the impact on non-communicable diseases mortality rates in the UK if a nutrient profile model was used to underpin the health-related claims legislation so that only foods that pass a nutrient profile model were eligible to carry health-related claims? and (2) What would be the impact if foods that carry health-related claims but fail the nutrient profile model were reformulated so that they meet the model criteria?

Recommendations for successful substantiation of new health claims in the European Union

There are two project's focuses: "(1) understanding the main issues and hurdles concerning the substantiation and use of health claims on foodstuffs, and the level of awareness about legal obligations regarding the use of claims among the relevant stakeholders; and (2) to produce a three-fold study of the NHCR's impact on the claim substantiation process, health research and/or innovation in the food chain, and nutrition economic models – to determine the health impact."

Development of a new front-of-pack nutrition label in France: the five-colour  Nutri-Score

This study "presents the various studies conducted in France prior to the selection of the Nutri-Score as its front-of-pack nutrition label to provide policy-makers with a framework for informed decisions." 

Big Food’s Opposition to the French Nutri-Score Front-of-Pack Labeling Warrants a Global Reaction

This article" exposes the strategies against the Nutri-Score FOP nutritional labelling from the industry that belongs to the Big Tobacco playbook: shaping the evidence base, political and economic pressures, destabilizing scientific opponents, delaying the decisions, and offering substitutions to the proposed policy." 

Impact of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels on Portion Size Selection: An Experimental Study in a French Cohort

The objective this study "was to assess comparatively the effect of the Evolved Nutrition Label, Multiple Traffic Lights and Nutri-Score, on the portion size selection of less healthy food products, compared to a control situation without any front-of-pack nutrition label." 

Perception of different formats of front of-pack nutrition labels according to sociodemographic, lifestyle and dietary factors in a French population: cross-sectional study among the NutriNet-Santé cohort participants

The objective of this study "was to investigate the perception of these front-of-pack labels, according to sociodemographic, lifestyle and dietary factors." The studied front-of-pack labels include the Nutriscore, the SENS, the Multiple Traffic Lights and a modified version of the Reference Intakes. 

Portuguese consumers’ attitudes towards food labelling

This report aimed "to show how Portuguese consumers use and understand nutrition information on food labels in their daily lives. It starts by presenting the theoretical framework for exploring the research goals." 

The nutritional quality of foods carrying health-related claims in Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and the United Kingdom

The objective of this research was to "compares the nutritional quality of pre-packaged foods carrying health-related claims with foods that do not carry health-related claims." 

The Impact of Package Color and the Nutrition Content Labels on the Perception of Food Healthiness and Purchase Intention

This study "presents how the choice of color in food packaging, along with the nutrition content claim labeling, can influence the consumer’s perception of food healthiness and purchase intention." 

A qualitative study concerning the Keyhole’s influence over 25 years on product development

The objective of this report is to provide an analysis of the influence of the Keyhole logo over a period of more than 25 years. 

Modelling the impact of different front-of-package nutrition labels on mortality from non-communicable chronic disease

This study aimed "to estimate the potential impact of several different front-of-pack label designs on mortality from chronic diseases in the French population using a macro-simulation model." 

Nutri-Score: A Public Health Tool to Improve Eating Habits in Portugal

The aim of this article was to fill "the existing gap in guidance for the implementation of FOP labelling systems." The paper then presents "the growing evidence on the impact of the Nutri-Score labelling scheme in promoting healthier eating behaviours and informs health professionals, as well as decision makers, on the way forward." 

Global Governance of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling: A Qualitative Analysis

The study presents "findings from a qualitative governance and institutional analysis, based on key informant interviews with 28 global actors." 

An assessment of nutrition information on front of pack labels and healthiness of foods in the United Kingdom retail market

This study assessed the frequency of usage of the front-of-pack food labelling systems in UK supermarkets. It also reviewed the healthiness of available foods online by categorising them into ‘low’, ‘medium’, and high’ according to their nutrient contents. As purchase patterns shift with the COVID-19 pandemic and consumers buying food online, it was a timely occasion to understand these trends.

Predicting obesity reduction after implementing warning labels in Mexico: A modelling study

The study aimed to estimate the potential reduction in obesity prevalence in adults in Mexico because of the implementation of warning labels on packaged products.