title: Readability of product ingredient labels can be improved by simple means: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ingredient labels on products used by consumers and workers every day, such as food, cosmetics, and detergents, can be difficult to read and understand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether typographical design and ordering of ingredients can improve the readability of product ingredient labels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects (n = 16) had to search for two target ingredients in 30 cosmetic product labels and three alternative formats of each. Outcome measures were completion time (reading speed), recognition rate, eye movements, task load and subjective rating when the reading of ingredient labels was assessed by video recording, an eye tracking device, and questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The completion time was significantly lower (p < 0.001) when subjects were reading all alternative formats than when they were reading the original. The recognition rate was generally high, and improved slightly with the alternative formats. The eye movement measures confirmed that the alternative formats were easier to read than the original product labels. Mental and physical demand and effort were significantly lower (p < 0.036) and experience rating was higher (p < 0.042) for the alternative formats. There were also differences between the alternative formats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple adjustments in the design of product ingredient labels would significantly improve their readability, benefiting the many allergic individuals and others in their daily struggle to avoid harmful or unwanted exposure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yazar
authors.forename: Gustaf Ö
authors.initials: GÖ
authors.lastname: Seimyr
authors.forename: Jiri A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lidén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003358:Cosmetics; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics
keywords: allergen avoidance; consumer products; contact allergy; cosmetics; food allergy; ingredient labelling; readability