Impact of different front-of-pack nutrition labels on foods according to their nutritional quality: A comparative study in Mexico

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to compare consumers' objective understanding of five FoPLs [Health Star Rating system (HSR), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL), Nutri-Score, Reference Intakes (RIs), Warning Symbol] in Mexico. Materials and methods. 1 001 Mexican consumers were recruited and asked to rank three sets of label-free products according to their nutritional quality, via a survey. Upon completion of this task, participants were randomized to one of five FoPL conditions and were again asked to rank the same sets of products, this time with a FoPL displayed on pack. Change in ability to correctly rank products across the two tasks was assessed by FoPL using ordinal logistic regression. Results. Nutri-Score and MTL performed best, followed Warning Symbol, HSR and RIs. Conclusion. Nutri-Score and MTL appear as efficient schemes to inform consumers on the nutritional quality of foods, in particular in Mexico, where it would be a helpful tool for consumers in purchasing situations.