title: The impact of nutritional labels and socioeconomic status on energy intake. An experimental field study.
abstract: There is some evidence for paradoxical effects of nutritional labelling on energy intake particularly amongst restrained eaters and those with a higher body mass index (BMI) resulting in greater consumption of energy from foods with a positive health message (e.g. "low-fat") compared with the same foods, unlabelled. This study aimed to investigate, in a UK general population sample, the likelihood of paradoxical effects of nutritional labelling on energy intake. Participants (n = 287) attended a London cinema and were offered a large tub of salted or toffee popcorn. Participants were randomised to receive their selected flavour with one of three labels: a green low-fat label, a red high-fat label or no label. Participants watched two film clips while completing measures of demographic characteristics, emotional state and taste of the popcorn. Following the experiment, popcorn consumption was measured. There were no main effects of nutritional labelling on consumption. Contrary to predictions neither BMI nor weight concern moderated the effect of label on consumption. There was a three-way interaction between low-fat label, weight concern and socioeconomic status (SES) such that weight-concerned participants of higher SES who saw a low-fat label consumed more than weight unconcerned participants of similar SES (t = -2.7, P = .04). By contrast, weight-concerned participants of lower SES seeing either type of label, consumed less than those seeing no label (t = -2.04, P = .04). Nutritional labelling may have different effects in different socioeconomic groups. Further studies are required to understand fully the possible contribution of food labelling to health inequalities.
authors.affiliation: Section of Health Psychology, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, SE1 9RT, UK. Electronic address: r.a.crockett@greenwhich.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Crockett
authors.affiliation: Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, MRC Human Nutrition Research, 120 Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL,UK.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jebb
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hankins
authors.affiliation: Section of Health Psychology, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, SE1 9RT, UK; Behaviour and Health Policy Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Marteau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats
keywords: Consumption; Nutritional labelling; Socioeconomic status; Weight concern