The impact of voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling on packaged food reformulation: A difference-in-differences analysis of the Australasian Health Star Rating scheme

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003427
• Publication Date: 2020-11-20T18:29:39Z
• Authors: Laxman Bablani; Cliona Ni Mhurchu; Bruce Neal; Christopher L. Sk...; Kevin E. Staub; Tony Blakely
• Keywords: Nutrition facts label

Background Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) of packaged foods can promote healthier diets. Australia and New Zealand (NZ) adopted the voluntary Health Star Rating (HSR) scheme in 2014. We studied impact adoption HSR on food reformulation relative to unlabelled examined differential impacts for more-versus-less healthy foods. Methods findings Annual information panel data were collected nonseasonal sold major supermarkets Auckland from 2013 2019 Sydney 2014 2018. The analysis sample covered 58,905 unique products over 14 groups. used a difference-in-differences design estimate associated with adoption. Healthier more than unhealthy products: >35% that achieved 4 or stars displayed label compared <15% 2 less. Products 6.5% 10.7% likely increase their rating by ≥0.5 NZ, respectively. Labelled showed −4.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): −6.4% −1.7%, p = 0.001] decline sodium content there was −1.4% CI: −2.7% −0.0%, 0.045] change Australia. −2.3% [−3.7% −0.9%, sugar NZ statistically insignificant −1.1% [−2.3% 0.1%, 0.061] difference Initially larger effects when adopting products. No evidence protein saturated fat observed. A limitation our study is results are not sales weighted. Thus, it able assess changes overall nutrient consumption occur because HSR-caused reformulation. Also, participation into jointly determined producers this observational study, impacting its generalisability settings mandatory labelling. Conclusions In we observed following small, but greater initially were, however, less adopt HSR. Our results, therefore, suggest has greatest potential improving healthiness