Estimating the effects of nutrition label use on Canadian consumer diet‐health concerns using propensity score matching. (7th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anders, Sven; Schroeter, Christiane
• Is Part Of: International journal of consumer studies. Volume 41:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 534
• Page End: 544
• Publication Date: 2017-05-07
• Subjects: I1 -- H2; health concerns -- nutrition labelling -- propensity score matching -- self‐selection bias -- treatment effects; Consumer education -- Periodicals; Home economics -- Periodicals; 339.486405
• DOI: 10.1111/ijcs.12363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-6423

Abstract

Abstract: The overarching goal of nutrition labelling is to transform intrinsic credence attributes into searchable cues, which would enable consumers to make informed food choices at lower search costs. This study estimates the impact of nutrition label usage on Canadian consumers' ( n = 8, 114) perceived diet‐health concerns using alternative propensity score matching (PSM) techniques. We apply a series of tests and sensitivity analyses to overcome issues of endogeneity and selection bias frequently found in studies of diet‐health behaviour and to validate the impact of exposure to nutrition facts labels for users vs. non‐users. Our results support the notion that consumer uncertainty and related food‐health concerns are linked to their information behaviour, but not in straightforward manner. Dominant subjective food attributes, such as taste, convenience and affordability, may in fact outweigh the benefits of information about healthier, alternative food choices. In order to change dietary health behaviour, food manufacturer and policy makers alike need to adopt communication instruments that better account for differences in preferences, shopping habits and overall usage patterns of nutrition labelling information.