Research Showcase Abstracts
Explore abstracts from CFDR’s annual research showcase at the DC Conference.
Year
2016
Language
English
Title
Nutrition labelling: comprehension and use of Nutrition Facts tables among young people in Canada
Introduction/Purpose
• Nutrition labels are required in over 50 countries
• Aims are to inform consumer food choices and to improve diet
• Consumers struggle to understand and apply label information
• Aims are to inform consumer food choices and to improve diet
• Consumers struggle to understand and apply label information
Objective(s)/Process or Summary of Content
What changes to the Nutrition Facts table better support healthier food choices among young people in Canada?
Method(s)/Systemic Approach Used
• Online cross-seconal survey conducted in August 2014
• Nielsen Consumer Insights online commercial panel
• Canadian youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 (n=2008)
• 50% aged 16 to 18, 50% 19 to 24
• 50% male
• 10 provinces
• English only
• majority white (58.4%)
• Nielsen Consumer Insights online commercial panel
• Canadian youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 (n=2008)
• 50% aged 16 to 18, 50% 19 to 24
• 50% male
• 10 provinces
• English only
• majority white (58.4%)
Results/Conclusions
• Consistent serving size reference values among similar foods supports young people compare between products nutrition information
• Adding simple descriptors or colour coding for %DV information on NFts helps young people interpret information on products nutrition
• Providing both consistent serving size information and interpretive %DV information had a modest effect on ability to mathematically manipulate nutrition information to calculate nutrient content of multiple servings of a product – more research is needed
• Adding simple descriptors or colour coding for %DV information on NFts helps young people interpret information on products nutrition
• Providing both consistent serving size information and interpretive %DV information had a modest effect on ability to mathematically manipulate nutrition information to calculate nutrient content of multiple servings of a product – more research is needed
Conclusions(s)/Recommendations
Serving Size Formats
• Providing serving size and nutrition information for the entire container in a dual-column format increased understanding of energy content
• Larger font size for serving size reference amount did not improve label usability but was preferred format
• Participants still struggle when applying nutrition information predicated on basic mathematical calculations
• Additional formats to improve consumers’ accuracy should be examined (e.g., colours, symbols, infographics)
• Providing serving size and nutrition information for the entire container in a dual-column format increased understanding of energy content
• Larger font size for serving size reference amount did not improve label usability but was preferred format
• Participants still struggle when applying nutrition information predicated on basic mathematical calculations
• Additional formats to improve consumers’ accuracy should be examined (e.g., colours, symbols, infographics)
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