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Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Policies and Education for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 January 2024) | Viewed by 31616

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Robert Hamlin

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Guest Editor

Department of Marketing, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
Interests: food consumer behaviour; package design and communication; food marketing; nutritional labels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Euejung Hwang

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor

Marketing Group, University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9JS, UK
Interests: food consumer behaviour; food marketing; nutritional labels

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food labels are a tool to promote public health by providing information which allows consumers to make informed dietary choices. At the same time, food labels may represent a marketing tool and may influence consumers’ perception of food quality.

This Special Issue looks to offer a platform for research in this area that is important but is underrepresented in the regular issues of Nutrients, or any other academic food journal.

It welcomes contributions from any qualified individual or group within the food sector that is based upon original research, reviews of the literature and evidence-based commentaries focusing on:

Measurement of the absolute impact (or not) of established FoP systems on consumer behaviour and choice. The Editors are particularly interested in experimental/observational research that examines the impact of FOP labels on unprompted consumer evaluations/choice of the food products that carry them.
Measurement of the relative impact (one to another) of established FoP systems on consumer behaviour and choice. The Editors are particularly interested in any research relating to warning labels.
Research on the impact (or not) of FoP labels on manufacturer behaviours such as food product formulation, design, and marketing. The Editors are particularly interested in the relationship between FoP labels and commercial marketing communications, such as commercial brands, and package design features, such as cartoon characters and health/nutrition claims.
The consumer learning and choice mechanisms that are used to evaluate food nutritional labels and the products that carry them. The editors are particularly interested in experimental research that studies FoP labels with regard to non-cognitive consumer learning and choice processes.
The relationship between FoP label system and specific consumer cultures, attitudes, or beliefs. The editors are particularly interested in research (including evidence-based commentaries) on the relationship between FoP label systems and industrial strategy and/or regional, national, and international politics and/or regional, national, and international regulatory development.

The Editors welcome contributions from academic researchers, and also informed individuals/groups who are participating in the food sector in other roles. The Editors are not directly interested in research that examines nutrient profiles of food products relating to FOP labels, as these are already well represented in the regular issues of Nutrients, but they will consider such submissions if they are clearly pertinent to one of the headings above.

Potential contributors are welcome/recommended to discuss their ideas with the Editor below prior to submission. This will be particularly important if the contributor is a non-academic source and/or the proposed contribution is an evidence-based commentary.

Dr. Robert Hamlin
Dr. Euejung Hwang
Guest Editors

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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-blind 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.

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Keywords

nutritional labelling
front of pack (FoP) label
food policy
consumer behaviour

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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19 pages, 2589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relation between Consumer Perception and Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels (FOPNLs); Results from an Online Representative Survey

by Emmanuella Magriplis, Georgios Marakis, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Aspasia Samona, Sotiria Kotopoulou, Dimitris Kouretas, Theodoros Smiliotopoulos, Michail Chourdakis and Antonis Zampelas

Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111751 - 3 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1526

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the efficacy of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels (FOPNLs) as a cost-effective tool for improving dietary choices among Greek consumers. The purpose of the study was to investigate Greek customers’ preferences and comprehension of commonly used European FOPNL schemes. Methods: The Hellenic Food Authority and the Agricultural University of Athens performed a representative online survey in March 2022, titled “The Role of Nutritional Labelling in Public Perception and Food Procurement.” Consumers responded to a questionnaire separated into two parts. Part one included (i) personal, sociodemographic information, and (ii) subjective opinions on the FOPNL schemes, and part two comprised (iii) an objective understanding of NutriScore and NutrInform Battery, using 15 different foods. Participants were randomly allocated to these groups, and general mixed models were used for analysis. Results: A total of 1389 adults completed the first part of the survey, and 74.8% completed the second part. The Multiple Traffic Lights scheme was the preferred FOPNL, chosen by 48.4% of respondents, compared to 19.7% for NutrInform Battery and 12.3% for NutriScore. However, the mean objective assessment score was highest for NutriScore (5.8 ± 2.3) compared to NutrInform Battery (5.4 ± 1.9). Conclusion: The results highlight the necessity for comprehensive nutrition education programs by showing a considerable gap between subjective preferences and an objective understanding of nutrition labels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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15 pages, 829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using the Nutrition Facts Label to Make Food Choices Is Associated with Healthier Eating among 8th and 11th-Grade Students: An Analysis of Statewide Representative Data from the 2019–2020 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey

by Christopher D. Pfledderer, Nalini Ranjit, Adriana Pérez, Raja I. Malkani, Augusto César Ferreira De Moraes, Ethan T. Hunt, Carolyn L. Smith and Deanna M. Hoelscher

Nutrients 2024, 16(2), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16020311 - 20 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4486

Abstract

Background: Nutrition labels are a tool to inform and encourage the public to make healthier food choices, but little information is available about use in multi-ethnic adolescent populations in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the level of nutrition label usage and healthy/unhealthy eating behaviors among a statewide representative sample of 8th and 11th-grade students in Texas. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional associations between the Nutrition Facts label use and eating behaviors from a statewide sample of 8th and 11th-grade students in Texas, (n = 4730, weighted n = 710,731, mean age = 14.7 ± 1.6 years; 49% female, 51% Hispanic), who completed the 2019–2020 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (TX SPAN) survey. Students self-reported their level of nutrition label usage to make food choices (5-point Likert scale from “Never” to “Always”) and previous day consumption of 26 food items (13 healthy, 13 unhealthy). The 26 food items were used to calculate a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score (0–100), a Healthy Foods Index (HFI) score (0–100), and an Unhealthy Foods Index (UFI) score (0–100). Weighted linear regression models were employed to examine the associations between self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices and HEI, HFI, and UFI scores. Marginal predicted means of HEI, HFI, and UFI scores were calculated post hoc from linear regression models. The odds of consuming specific individual food items for nutrition label usage were also calculated from weighted logistic regression models. All linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for grade, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), race/ethnicity, economic disadvantage, and percentage of English language learners by school. Results: A total of 11.0% of students reported always/almost always using nutrition labels to make food choices, 27.9% reported sometimes using them, while 61.0% indicated they never/almost never used nutrition labels to make food choices. The average HEI score among students in the sample was 47.7 ± 5.9. Nutrition Facts label usage was significantly and positively associated with HEI (b = 5.79, 95%CI: 4.45, 7.12) and HFI (b = 7.28, 95%CI:4.48, 10.07), and significantly and negatively associated with UFI (b = −4.30, 95%CI: −6.25, −2.34). A dose–response relationship was observed between nutrition label usage and HEI, HFI, and UFI scores, such that the strength of these associations increased with each one-point increase in nutrition label usage. Students who reported using nutrition labels always/almost always to make food choices had significantly higher odds of consuming healthy foods including baked meat, nuts, brown bread, vegetables, whole fruit, and yogurt (OR_range = 1.31–3.07), and significantly lower odds of consuming unhealthy foods including chips, cake, candy, and soda (OR_range = 0.48–0.68) compared to students who reported never/almost never using the Nutrition Facts label. Conclusions: Using the Nutrition Facts labels to make food choices is beneficially associated with healthy and unhealthy eating among 8th and 11th-grade students, although the proportion of students using nutrition labels to make their food choices was low. Public health efforts should be made to improve nutrition literacy and encourage nutrition label use among secondary students in the United States. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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14 pages, 877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smoothies Marketed in Spain: Are They Complying with Labeling Legislation?

by Lorena Da Silva-Mojón, Concepción Pérez-Lamela and Elena Falqué-López

Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4426; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204426 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1541

Abstract

There is no legal definition of a smoothie, so the European legislation applicable to its labeling is that of fruit juice. The smoothie market has grown in recent years, as it can include a wide variety of ingredients: fruits, fruit purees, honey, milk and vegetable milks, vegetables, herbs, cereals, cereal flours, seaweed, and crushed ice. In this study, 57 smoothies were reviewed. All of them were purchased in supermarkets and classified into eight types according to the main ingredients. Fifteen legal statements/items were reviewed on the pack labels: eleven mandatory and three optional. Moreover, nutrition labels, nutritional claims, images, marks, and other symbols were also reviewed. Only 22.8% of the samples complied with EU and Spanish labeling legislation. More incorrectness was related to the name of the food and the fruits included as main ingredients; other errors related to the allergy/intolerance statements, and some nutritional claims concerning vitamin C were also detected to a lesser extent. General advice is provided for consumers to interpret smoothie labels correctly. Lawmakers should amend legislation to accept the term “smoothie” as a legal name. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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12 pages, 941 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels with and without Explanatory Videos on Parent and Child Food Choices

by Dan J. Graham, Rachel G. Lucas-Thompson and Gina Slejko

Nutrients 2023, 15(18), 4082; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15184082 - 21 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1907

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine whether parent/child pairs choosing products from a grocery aisle labeled with front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels would make more healthful choices than pairs who viewed the same items without labels, and to determine the added value of viewing an explanatory video before choosing. In this experiment, 175 parent/child pairs chose USD 20 worth of packaged foods and beverages from a grocery aisle in a research laboratory and were randomly assigned to see products that either did or did not have 0–4-star FOP labels, with more stars indicating more healthful products. Among those participants with access to FOP labels, half were randomly assigned to view a 30 s video explaining the FOP labels before selecting foods. Participants who saw the explanatory video before selecting among products with FOP labels chose foods with significantly more stars than participants who saw the FOP-labeled products without the video; however, there was no significant difference in mean stars on selected products between the group that saw the videos and the control group that saw neither the video nor FOP labels. We conclude that explaining new FOP labels to consumers may be necessary for the labels to prompt more healthful choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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18 pages, 34984 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Social Distance and Front-of-Package Claims on Healthy Food Selection: Moderating Role of Perceived Importance of Eating Healthily

by Veena Chattaraman, Yee Ming Lee, Ebony Marchelle Robinson, Adam J. Book and Fnu Al-Amin

Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3427; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153427 - 2 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1859

Abstract

Applying construal level theory, this study examined how social distance (thinking of self/children), front-of-package (FOP) claim type (nutrient/health/control), and perceived importance of eating healthily (low/high) impact consumer responses (attitudes/purchase intent) to healthier food products through an online experiment with 171 U.S. parents from low-to-mid socio-economic households. Participants were randomly assigned to view controlled images of healthier foods with packaging that bore different claim types for real and fictitious brands. Results revealed that when choosing for themselves, consumer attitudes were more positive when the healthier food package carried a nutrient (vs. health) claim, however, control claims received the most positive evaluations. When choosing for children, attitudes were more positive when the package carried a health (vs. nutrient/control) claim. Attitudes toward healthier foods were higher for consumers with high (vs. low) perceived importance of eating healthily when the package bore a nutrient claim, however, their attitudes did not significantly differ when the package bore a health/control claim. Purchase intent for healthier foods was higher for consumers with high (vs. low) perceived importance of healthy eating when shopping for self; whereas, when shopping for children, purchase intent did not significantly differ between consumers who varied in perceived importance of eating healthily. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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47 pages, 6064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Little Bird Told Me… Nutri-Score Panoramas from a Flight over Europe, Connecting Science and Society

by Alice Stiletto, Leonardo Cei and Samuele Trestini

Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3367; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153367 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

Within the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission ask for a unified Front Of Pack nutritional label for food to be used at the European level. The scientific debate identified the Nutri-Score (NS) as the most promising candidate, but within the political discussion, some Member States brought to attention several issues related to its introduction. This misalignment led to a postponement of the final decision. With the aim to shed some light on the current stances and contribute to the forthcoming debate, the objective of the present work is to understand to what extent scientific research addresses the issues raised by the general public. We applied a structural topic model to tweets from four European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and to abstracts of scientific papers, all dealing with the NS topic. Different aspects of the NS debate are discussed in different countries, but scientific research, while addressing some of them (e.g., the comparison between NS and other labels), disregards others (e.g., relations between NS and traditional products). It is advisable, therefore, to widen the scope of NS research to properly address the concerns of European society and to provide policymakers with robust evidence to support their decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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16 pages, 1665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Randomized Controlled Study to Test Front-of-Pack (FOP) Nutrition Labels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

by Soye Shin, Ada Mohammad Alqunaibet, Reem F. Alsukait, Amaal Alruwaily, Rasha Abdulrahman Alfawaz, Abdullah Algwizani, Christopher H. Herbst, Meera Shekar and Eric A. Finkelstein

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2904; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132904 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2943

Abstract

One common strategy for governments to tackle the non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic is front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is considering implementing a new FOP label that is based on either France’s Nutri-Score (NS), which labels all foods (A = healthiest to E = least healthy) based on overall nutritional quality, or the Chilean warning label (WL) approach, which identifies foods to avoid based on select nutritional characteristics. Using a fully functional online grocery store, this study aimed to test these two promising FOP strategies by randomizing 656 KSA adults into one of the three versions of the store to complete a hypothetical grocery shop: no-label (control), NS, and WL. The NS was modified with a sugar percentage tag given that reducing sugar consumption is one of KSA’s public health goals. We found that both modified NS labels and Chilean warning labels positively influenced food and beverage choices among KSA participants, but there were differential effects across the two labels. Relative to the control, NS improved the overall diet quality of the shopping baskets, measured by the weighted (by the number of servings) average NS point (ranging from 0, least healthy, to 55, healthiest), by 2.5 points [95% CI: 1.7, 3.4; p < 0.001], whereas results for WL were not statistically significant (0.6 points [95% CI: −0.2,1.5]). With respect to each nutritional attribute, we found that NS reduced sugar intake per serving, whereas WL was effective at decreasing energy and saturated fat intake per serving from food and beverages purchased. Our results suggest that the NS approach that identifies the healthiness of all foods using a holistic approach appears preferable if the purpose of the label is to improve overall diet quality as opposed to addressing select nutrients to avoid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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16 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A 20-Country Comparative Assessment of the Effectiveness of Nutri-Score vs. NutrInform Battery Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labels on Consumer Subjective Understanding and Liking

by Jun He, Marco Francesco Mazzù and Angelo Baccelloni

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132852 - 23 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2020

Abstract

The incidence of overweight and obesity has generated significant concerns among European consumers and institutions. As part of a set of measures undertaken, the European Union (EU) called for one harmonized mandatory front-of-pack nutritional label (FOPL) to improve consumer food nutritional knowledge and encourage healthier and more informed food choices. Different types of FOPLs, ranging from nutrient-specific labels—such as the NutrInform Battery—to summary labels—such as the Nutri-Score—have been developed and introduced in different markets, reporting different degrees of effectiveness in terms of understanding. The aim of this study is to provide actionable insights by analyzing a specific part of the complex consumers’ decision-making process in food when aided by FOPLs. Adopting a between-subject experiment on a sample of 4560 respondents in 20 EU member countries, the study compares the consumer subjective understanding and liking of two labels currently under examination by the EU bodies, the NutrInform Battery and the Nutri-Score. At an aggregated level, the results show that NutrInform Battery is more effective than Nutri-Score in improving consumer subjective understanding and leads to a higher liking towards the label. A detailed by-country analysis highlights either a superiority or a parity of NutrInform Battery for subjective understanding and liking. Theoretically, this study, through a large panel of respondents, adds the fundamental perspective on subjective understanding, complementing the findings of extant research on objective understanding, and further clarifies the role of liking as a complementary element in the food decision-making process toward heathier and more informed food choices. This might be of significant relevance in providing additional evidence that can be used by policymakers in their attempt toward the selection of a uniform FOPL at EU level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

16 pages, 692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Front-of-Pack Warning Signs among Commercial Complementary Foods in Seven High and Upper Middle-Income Countries

by Eleonora Bassetti, Asha Khosravi and Alissa M. Pries

Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071629 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2798

Abstract

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) can provide a mechanism for communicating the nutritional quality of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) to caregivers. To better understand the role FOPNL may provide for CPCF, this study aimed to evaluate CPCFs against national and global FOPNL systems to determine the proportion that would warrant warning or traffic light signs for high levels of concerning nutrients. A cross-sectional assessment was conducted to evaluate the levels of selected nutrients in CPCF available in Australia (n = 266), Brazil (n = 41), Chile (n = 73), Mexico (n = 164), the United States (n = 562), the United Arab Emirates (n = 135), and the United Kingdom (n = 643). The analysis was based on national FOPNL systems and the WHO Regional Office for Europe CPCF nutrient profiling model’s ‘high sugar’ FOPNL warning. A substantial proportion of CPCFs contained excessive levels of total sugar, total fat or saturated fat that would warrant a red/amber traffic light or warning sign on product labels. Additionally, the high prevalence of added sugars and sweeteners identified in CPCFs was concerning. Based on these findings, the use of FOPNL among CPCFs could be beneficial to communicate the nutritional quality of these products to caregivers and trigger the reformulation of CPCFs with inappropriate nutrient profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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11 pages, 294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors Associated with the Influence of the Food Traffic Light Labeling on the Decision of the Adult Population of Ecuador to Purchase Processed Foods, 2018

by Paolo Alfredo Bobbio Gonzáles, Diego Azañedo and Akram Hernández-Vásquez

Nutrients 2023, 15(4), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040885 - 9 Feb 2023

Viewed by 2211

Abstract

To determine the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the influence of the nutritional traffic light (NTL) on the decision to purchase processed foods using information from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) 2018 of Ecuador, a cross-sectional and analytical study based on a secondary analysis of the information from the ENSANUT 2018 was performed. We collected data from 25,932 participants 18 years of age or older who knew or had seen the NTL, and for whom complete information on the variables of interest for the study was available. The “Influence of the NTL on the purchase decision of processed foods” was the outcome variable of the study. Generalized linear models of the Poisson family, with log link, were used to assess the association between socioeconomic factors and outcome, using crude (PR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and a p-value < 0.05. Participants who understood the NTL (aPR: 2.49; 95% CI: 2.19–2.83), with a higher educational level (aPR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.09–1.61), women (aPR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.10), and who had a partner (aPR 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.14) were more likely to be influenced by the NTL when deciding to purchase processed foods, compared to people who did not understand the NTL, who had no educational level or who only attended a literacy center, were men, and those without a partner. The inhabitants of the coastal region (aPR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88–0.97), the Amazon (aPR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88–0.98), and the insular region (aPR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.68–0.84) had few probabilities of being influenced by the NTL in the decision to purchase processed foods, in comparison with the residents of the highlands. Similarly, compared to non-poor people, poor people had a lower probability of being influenced by the NTL (aPR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82–0.97). Factors associated with the influence of NTL on the decision to purchase processed foods were identified. It is recommended to reformulate and focus awareness strategies for using the NTL to purchase processed foods by taking into account the associated factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

16 pages, 503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels: Comparing the Nordic Keyhole and Nutri-Score in a Swedish Context

by Stephanie Pitt, Bettina Julin, Bente Øvrebø and Alicja Wolk

Nutrients 2023, 15(4), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040873 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4378

Abstract

The extent to which different front-of-pack nutrition labels (FOPNLs) agree or contradict each other has been insufficiently investigated. Considering the 2020 proposal from the European Commission to create a harmonized FOPNL, the aim of this study was to assess agreements and disagreements between two FOPNL schemes—the Keyhole and the Nutri-Score—in a Swedish context. The current Keyhole criteria and the updated Nutri-Score 2022 algorithm were applied to 984 food items and their nutrient compositions, obtained from the food database of the Swedish Food Agency. Agreements (Keyhole-eligible and Nutri-Score A or B; or not Keyhole-eligible and Nutri-Score C, D, or E) and disagreements (Keyhole-eligible and Nutri-Score C, D, or E, or not Keyhole-eligible and Nutri-Score A or B) were calculated as percentages for all items and by food group. An agreement was found for 81% of included items. The lowest level of agreement was found for the groups of flour, grains, and rice (62% agreement) and for plant-based meat and fish analogues (33% agreement). There is generally a good level of agreement between the Keyhole and the Nutri-Score for food items on the Swedish market. Large disagreements found for plant-based meat and fish analogues, and products based on cereals/grains, highlight important considerations for the development of a harmonized FOPNL within Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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16 pages, 6669 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

The Development and Potential of a Digital out of Home Food Environment Monitoring Platform

by Kathrin Hetz, Nuwan Weerasinghe, Holly Rippin, Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Olga Zhiteneva, Muhammad Arslan Usman, Christos Politis and Gauden Galea

Nutrients 2023, 15(18), 3887; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15183887 - 6 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2354

Abstract

The rapidly growing field of digital meal delivery platforms has transformed the out of home (OOH) food environment, presenting both opportunities and challenges for public health. This paper introduces the development and potential of a novel digital platform designed for monitoring the OOH food environment. Drawing on publicly available data from meal delivery applications, this platform provides valuable insights into the landscape of digital food offerings, such as the most common restaurants per region, average caloric content per meal type, and energy value per monetary unit. This research addresses the current void in regulations for this digital environment, particularly around food labeling and provision of nutrition information. Even though the platform has significantly improved our understanding of the digital food ecosystem, it highlights gaps, primarily due to the lack of publicly available individual data and inconsistencies in provided information. Despite these challenges, the proposed digital platform holds considerable promise for better understanding the digital food environment, supporting healthier food choices, and informing future policy interventions aimed at regulating the online food environment. This research advocates for mandatory regulations in the digital food sector to ensure comprehensive, comparable, and transparent nutrition information and equality in access to nutritious foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Nutrition Labels in Relation to Diet and Public Health)

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