Change is good!? Analyzing the relationship between attention and nutrition facts panel modifications. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grebitus, Carola; Davis, George C.
• Is Part Of: Food policy. Volume 73(2017)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Calories per serving -- Eye tracking -- Healthy choice -- Nutrition information -- Serving size -- U.S; Q18 -- I12; Food supply -- Periodicals; Food security -- Periodicals; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food Supply -- Periodicals; Alimentation -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 338.1905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9192

Abstract

Highlights: We measure attention to the current and modified Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP). We use eye-tracking in a between-subjects experiment testing different food items. We find asymmetric effects, depending on the product. For healthier items more attention is paid to the modified NFP. For less healthy items less attention is paid to the modified NFP. Abstract: Many consumers do not pay attention to nutrition information, a necessity to make healthy food choices. We measure attention to a Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP) currently used in the U.S. and to a modified NFP that emphasizes key information, using eye-tracking in a between-subjects experiment. We test for differences between attention to the current and modified NFP but also for differences across food items. We find asymmetric effects, depending on the product. For healthier items more attention is paid to the modified NFP than to the current NFP. For less healthy items less attention is paid to the modified NFP than to the current NFP. Results suggest that a single modified design may not be uniformly effective.