Impact of front-of-pack 'traffic-light' nutrition labelling on consumer food purchases in the UK

• DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dap032
• Publication Date: 2009-10-09T00:45:52Z
• Authors: G. Sacks; M. Rayner; B. Swinburn
• Keywords: Nutrition facts label; Nutrition Labeling; Packaging and labeling; Food labeling; Promotion (chess); Food Products

Front-of-pack 'traffic-light' nutrition labelling has been widely proposed as a tool to improve public health nutrition.This study examined changes consumer food purchases after the introduction of traffic-light labels with aim assessing impact on 'healthiness' foods purchased.The sales data from major UK retailer in 2007.We analysed products two categories ('ready meals' and sandwiches), investigating percentage change 4 weeks before were introduced, taking into account seasonality, product promotions lifecycle.We investigated whether related healthiness products.All that not new promotion immediately or selected for analysis (n ¼ 6 ready meals n 12 sandwiches).For ready-meals, increased (by 2.4% category sales) labels, whereas sandwiches did significantly.Critically, there was no association between products.This short-term based small number found system four had discernable effect relative purchases.Further research influence signposting will be needed this format can considered promising intervention.