Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Impact of Food Labeling on Food Choices and Eating Behaviors

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editor
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 3398

Share This Special Issue

Editor

Dr. Rachel L. Bailey

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Communication & Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Interests: health communication; media psychology; food communication; eating behavior; wellness

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food labeling plays a central role in shaping consumer perceptions of nutrition and guiding dietary behaviors. Food labels and associated claims can influence food choice, eating habits, and broader health outcomes by providing information about nutrient content, health benefits, and sustainability. While food labeling and claims have the potential to promote informed decisions and healthier eating patterns, they may also mislead consumers or reinforce misconceptions. Therefore, examining the impact of food labeling and claims requires attention to both their benefits and unintended consequences for public health. This Special Issue seeks contributions that explore the influence of food labeling and claims on food choice, nutrition, and eating behaviors.

Dr. Rachel L. Bailey
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

food labeling
food claims
food choice
nutrition
eating behavior
public health
dietary behavior

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 5084 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Randomized Intercept Survey Trial to Test the Effectiveness of Multiple Traffic Light Labels on Online Grocery Shopping Behaviors in Bahrain

by Soye Shin, Ali Shubbar Jawad, Buthaina Yusuf Ajlan, Fatema Ahmed Mohammed Isa, Amna Ghassan Alawadhi, Reem Alsukait and Eric A. Finkelstein

Nutrients 2026, 18(10), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101645 - 21 May 2026

Viewed by 457

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Multiple Traffic Light (MTL) front-of-pack (FOP) labels are being considered in Bahrain. We tested whether an adapted MTL label improves the nutritional quality of grocery purchases. Methods: In a two-arm randomized controlled intercept trial (January–May 2025), adults (≥21 years) responsible for household grocery shopping were recruited in high-footfall public venues and asked to complete a one-time shop on a tablet-based, purpose-built online grocery platform. The MTL label was adapted for Arabic reading direction and displayed per-serving nutrients and % recommended daily intake. Treatment effects were estimated using ordinary least squares regressions with robust standard errors and covariate adjustment. Results: Of 395 randomized participants, 360 were included in primary analyses (control n = 183; MTL n = 177). MTL exposure was not associated with a significant change in the primary outcome (basket weighted average MTL score per serving; β = 0.037; p = 0.64) or in per-serving calories and nutrients of concern (all p > 0.17). In the post-shop assessment, only 47.2% of participants correctly interpreted MTL labels, indicating modest objective label comprehension under the study conditions. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the impact of front-of-pack labels likely depends on both implementation features and consumer understanding, and that pairing labels with public communication and nutrition literacy initiatives may be necessary to maximize the effectiveness of labels in Bahrain and the wider Gulf region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Food Labeling on Food Choices and Eating Behaviors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 612 KB

Open AccessArticle

Nutrition Label Reading and Understanding, Food Advertising Exposure, and Excess Weight Among Brazilian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Laysa Camila Bueno, Luiz Felipe de Paiva Lourenção, Thaiany Goulart de Souza-Silva, Cristina Garcia Lopes Alves, Marcelo Lacerda Rezende, Eric Batista Ferreira, Denismar Alves Nogueira, António Raposo, Zayed D. Alsharari, Mona N. BinMowyna, Sarah Almutairi and Daniela Braga Lima

Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040559 - 8 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1187

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nutrition labeling and food advertising are population-level strategies that may influence food choices. Excess weight is a recognized public health concern and a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases; however, evidence regarding the association between label use, food advertising, and excess weight remains inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between nutrition label reading and understanding, exposure to food advertising, food-related behaviors, and excess weight among Brazilian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 580 adults living in the southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics, food purchasing behaviors, exposure to food advertising, and habits related to reading and understanding nutrition labels. Excess weight was assessed using body mass index (BMI), calculated from self-reported weight and height. Logistic regression models and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: Excess weight was observed in 59.0% of participants. Regular use of nutrition labels was reported by 38.6% of respondents; among these individuals, 70.4% reported discontinuing the purchase of a food product after reading its nutritional information. In adjusted analyses, age over 30 years (p < 0.001), female sex (p = 0.006), higher number of dependents (p = 0.007), and type of media used (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with excess weight. The habit of reading nutrition labels was not independently associated with excess weight; however, better label understanding was associated with changes in food purchasing decisions. Considering the nutritional quality of foods as an important factor in food choices was associated with lower odds of having excess weight, although this association did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance (OR = 0.403; 95% CI: 0.15–1.00; p = 0.056). Conclusions: Excess weight among Brazilian adults was more strongly associated with sociodemographic and behavioral factors than with the habit of reading nutrition labels. Although nutrition labeling was not directly associated with excess weight, label understanding and perceived nutritional quality influenced food purchasing behaviors. These findings highlight the role of nutrition labeling and food advertising in shaping food choices and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to clarify their relationship with excess weight and related health outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Food Labeling on Food Choices and Eating Behaviors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 668 KB

Open AccessReview

Nutritional Composition, Health Benefits and Claim Conditions of Fish from Aquaculture: A Narrative Review

by Hanna Skendrović, Greta Krešić, Snježana Zrnčić and Jelka Pleadin

Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1270; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081270 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1311

Abstract

This review addresses the nutritional composition, health benefits, and claim conditions of aquaculture fish, focusing on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Both species provide high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, and favorable lipid profiles, particularly long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, alongside minerals such as phosphorus and selenium, which meet EU criteria for several authorized nutrition and health claims. Evidence demonstrates that regular consumption supports cardiovascular, cognitive, and visual health, reduces inflammation, and contributes to better pregnancy and early childhood outcomes. Consumer skepticism toward aquaculture persists, often driven by perceptions of reduced nutritional quality, despite evidence that farmed fish provide nutritionally valuable proteins and beneficial lipids. Nevertheless, both species consistently meet the requirements for multiple nutrition and health claims, particularly those related to protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and selected minerals, allowing their effective use in labeling and consumer communication. Clear, evidence-based labeling of such claims is crucial to enhance acceptance and promote farmed fish as safe, sustainable, and health-promoting dietary choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Food Labeling on Food Choices and Eating Behaviors)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Impact of Food Labeling on Food Choices and Eating Behaviors

Share This Special Issue

Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI