Nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods: a systematic review

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo review research on consumer use and understanding of nutrition labels, as well as the impact of labelling on dietary habits.DesignA systematic review was conducted by searching electronic databases. Relevant articles were screened by two reviewers and included if they met inclusion criteria, including eight methodological criteria. A total of 120 articles were included in the review, including cross-sectional surveys (n96), experimental designs (n17), ‘natural experiments’ (n7) and longitudinal population-based surveys (n2).SettingArticles covered seven jurisdictions: USA (n88), Europe (n12), Canada (n9), Australia and New Zealand (n4), Norway (n2), Thailand (n1) and Trinidad (n1).SubjectsParticipants were from a wide range of age groups, socio-economic strata and geographical regions.ResultsNutrition labels on pre-packaged foods are among the most prominent sources of nutrition information. Nutrition labels are perceived as a highly credible source of information and many consumers use nutrition labels to guide their selection of food products. Evidence also shows a consistent link between the use of nutrition labels and healthier diets. However, the use of labels varies considerably across subgroups, with lower use among children, adolescents and older adults who are obese. Research also highlights challenges in terms of consumer understanding and appropriate use of labelling information.ConclusionsNutrition labels on pre-packaged foods are a cost-effective population-level intervention with unparalleled reach. However, to capitalize on their potential, governments will need to explore new formats and different types of information content to ensure that nutrition information is accessible and understandable.