Effects of Sugary Beverage Text and Pictorial Warnings: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple U.S. localities have introduced legislation requiring sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) warnings. This study effects of different warning designs on beverage selections and perceptions. Study Design: The study was an RCT. Setting/Participants: An online virtual convenience store and survey were used with a nationally representative sample of primary caregivers of 6–11-year-olds (n=961). Data were collected in January 2020 and analyzed in May–July 2020. Intervention: Participants were randomized to view SSBs with 1 of 4 front-of-package label designs: (1) no-warning control, (2) health-related text warning, (3) sugar pictorial warning (image of beverage sugar content in cubes/teaspoons/packets with health-related warning text), or (4) health pictorial warning (image of possible health consequences of overconsuming SSBs with health-related warning text). Main outcome measures: Outcomes included participants’ beverage choice for their child and perceptions of beverages, their assigned labels, and warning policies. Results: Proportionally fewer participants chose a SSB in the sugar pictorial warning condition (-13.4 percentage points; 95% CI= -21.6 to -0.1 percentage points; p=0.007) and in the health pictorial warning condition (-14.7 percentage points; 95% CI= -22.8 to -0.1 percentage points; p=0.004) compared to the control. Sugar pictorial warnings led to more accurate added-sugar content estimates than all conditions and greater label trust and support for sugar-sweetened beverage warning policies than health pictorial warnings. Conclusions: SSB warning policies may be most effective if they mandate images of beverages’ added sugar content accompanied by warning text. Trial Registration: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03648138.