A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of the Multiple Traffic Light and Nutri-Score Front of Package Nutrition Labels

Finkelstein, Eric A.; Ang, Felicia Jia Ler; Doble, Brett; Wong, Wei Han Melvin; van Dam, Rob M.

doi:10.3390/nu11092236

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A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of the Multiple Traffic Light and Nutri-Score Front of Package Nutrition Labels

^1,2,*,†,

^1,†

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Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 807443, Singapore

Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 807443, Singapore

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

The two authors contributed equally to the article.

Nutrients 2019, 11(9), 2236; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092236

Received: 25 July 2019 / Revised: 2 September 2019 / Accepted: 12 September 2019 / Published: 17 September 2019

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Abstract

The objective of this trial was to test two promising front-of-pack nutrition labels, 1) the United Kingdom’s Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) label and 2) France’s Nutri-Score (NS), relative to a no-label control. We hypothesized that both labels would improve diet quality but NS would be more effective due to its greater simplicity. We tested this hypothesis via an online grocery store using a 3 × 3 crossover (within-person) design with 154 participants. Outcomes assessed via within person regression models include a modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010 (primary), average Nutri-Score, calories purchased, and singular measures of diet quality of purchase orders. Results show that both labels significantly improve modified AHEI scores relative to Control but neither is statistically superior using this measure. NS performed statistically better than MTL and Control based on average Nutri-Score, yet, unlike MTL it did not statistically reduce calories or sugar from beverages. This suggest that NS may be preferred if the goal is to improve overall diet quality but, because calories are clearly displayed on the label, MTL may perform better if the goal is to reduce total energy intake. View Full-Text

Keywords: front-of-pack labeling; nutrition labeling; food Intake; diet quality; diet; online grocery store; nutri-score; 5-color nutritional label; multiple traffic lights

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MDPI and ACS Style

Finkelstein, E.A.; Ang, F.J.L.; Doble, B.; Wong, W.H.M.; van Dam, R.M. A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of the Multiple Traffic Light and Nutri-Score Front of Package Nutrition Labels. Nutrients 2019, 11, 2236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092236

AMA Style

Finkelstein EA, Ang FJL, Doble B, Wong WHM, van Dam RM. A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of the Multiple Traffic Light and Nutri-Score Front of Package Nutrition Labels. Nutrients. 2019; 11(9):2236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092236

Chicago/Turabian Style

Finkelstein, Eric A., Felicia J.L. Ang, Brett Doble, Wei H.M. Wong, and Rob M. van Dam. 2019. "A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of the Multiple Traffic Light and Nutri-Score Front of Package Nutrition Labels" Nutrients 11, no. 9: 2236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092236

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A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of the Multiple Traffic Light and Nutri-Score Front of Package Nutrition Labels

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