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Chen J, Fan Y, Zhang M, Wu S, Li H. The neural model of front-of-package label processing. Nutr Rev 2024; 82:374-388. [PMID: 37604108 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Front-of-package (FOP) labels have been adopted in many countries to battle the obesity pandemic and its serious health consequences by providing clearer and easier-to-understand nutrition and health information. The effectiveness of FOP labels has been generally confirmed, with some contextual and individual factors modifying their effectiveness. Existing theories (eg, the dual-process theory) and shifting priorities for self-control, provide some explanations for the FOP label effect. However, the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the processing of FOP labels remain unknown. Here, a new model, namely, the neural model of FOP label processing, has been proposed to fill this gap by providing an integrated account of FOP label processing while simultaneously considering multiple important situational and individual factors in the same framework. This neural model is built on the core eating network (ie, the ventral reward pathway and the dorsal control pathway) for food cue processing and actual food consumption. The new model explains how FOP labels may facilitate attention, influence the core eating network, and thus alter food choices. It also demonstrates how motivation may modify FOP label processing in 2 ways: affecting attention (the indirect way) and changing the process of evaluating the food (the direct way). It further explains how some contextual and individual factors (eg, ego depletion, time pressure, and health knowledge) influence the process. Thus, the neural model integrates evidence from behavioral, eye-tracking, and neuroimaging studies into a single, integrated account, deepening understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms of FOP label processing. This model might facilitate consensus on the most successful FOP label. Moreover, it could provide insights for consumers, food industries, and policy makers and encourage healthy eating behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yixuan Fan
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Manlu Zhang
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuhuan Wu
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Huiyan Li
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
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Godden E, Thornton L, Avramova Y, Dens N. High hopes for front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labels? A conjoint analysis on the trade-offs between a FOP label, nutrition claims, brand and price for different consumer segments. Appetite 2023; 180:106356. [PMID: 36309232 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
An increasing number of studies investigate the effect of front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labels on consumer choice without considering differences in consumer preferences for product attributes. This study used a choice-based conjoint analysis to test consumers' preferences for four product attributes (5 levels of a FOP nutrition label, absence/presence of a nutrition claim, brand (unfamiliar, private label or premium) and 5 levels of price) when they coexist (n = 1156). As the consumer preferences showed distinct patterns (multimodality), consumers were subsequently clustered based on how a FOP nutrition label (Nutri-Score) influenced their food choices. Three consumer segments were identified, each valuing the Nutri-Score label differently. The label effectively seems to nudge one segment toward healthier choices (n = 456), while in contrast, another segment is unexpectedly steered toward unhealthier food choices by the label (n = 343). The third segment is only consistently nudged by the FOP label's extremes (n = 357). The segments also differ in their preferences for other product attributes (brand and price), health involvement, and self-reported understanding and use of the Nutri-Score, but not in the measured socio-demographic variables (age, sex, education, social class), dieting or smoking habits. In summary, consumers vary in their food label preferences, and studies that pool consumers may fail to capture these nuances, leading to biased results. This study shows that FOP labels do not steer all consumers toward healthier choices and may even have adverse effects for some. This suggests combining different policies and marketing strategies to reach all consumer segments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Godden
- Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Marketing, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Lukar Thornton
- Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Marketing, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Yana Avramova
- Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Marketing, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Nathalie Dens
- Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Marketing, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Hu P, Bhuiyan MA, Rahman MK, Hossain MM, Akter S. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavioural intention to purchase green products. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275541. [PMID: 36260619 PMCID: PMC9581351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the fear of COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on consumer behavioural intention to purchase green products. The data was collected from consumers of Malaysia in hypermarkets. A total of 491 respondents were analyzed using the partial least square technique. The results indicated that the fear of the COVID-19 epidemic has a significant impact on health concerns, social media information, intolerance of uncertainty, and personal relevance, which in turn affect consumers' behavioural intention to purchase green products. With a serial mediating effect the results identified that fear of COVID-19 epidemic is associated with behavioural intention to purchase the green product. The findings of this study are crucial for understanding the swings in the green product purchase behaviour due to the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19 crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Hu
- School of Economics, South China Business College of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Beijing International Aerotropolis Technology Research Institute Guangzhou Branch, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miraj Ahmed Bhuiyan
- School of Economics, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Khalilur Rahman
- Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business, and Angkasa-Umk Research Academy, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | | | - Shaharin Akter
- Faculty of Business Administration, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
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Iguacel I, Luna Maldonado A, Luna Ruiz-Cabello A, Samatán E, Alarcón J, Ángeles Orte M, Santodomingo Mateos S, Martínez-Jarreta B. Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals and General Population Toward Vaccines and the Intention to Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19 in Spain. Front Public Health 2021; 9:739003. [PMID: 34692626 PMCID: PMC8531478 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.739003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: To achieve herd immunity, the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine by the population, especially healthcare professionals, plays a key role. The objective of the present paper is to address the differences in attitudes among Spanish healthcare professionals compared with the general population regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: This cross-sectional study included data from 2,136 adults (n = 664 healthcare professionals) from an online survey conducted from May 6 to June 9, 2021. The Vaccination attitudes examination scale was used to measure the negative attitudes toward vaccines. Four subscales: mistrust of vaccine benefit, worries about the unforeseen future effect, concerns about commercial profiteering, and preference for natural immunity were calculated. Generalized linear mixed models were conducted to study these associations. Results: Between 10.2 and 22.6% of the subjects showed high levels of negative attitudes toward vaccines. However, only 1.5% of our sample (2.1% among healthcare professionals) refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it was offered because they chose otherwise. Retired people showed the lowest concerns and the highest trust in vaccines. No statistically significant effects were found between working in a healthcare field and having higher positive attitudes toward vaccines. Conclusion: Low levels of rejection against the COVID-19 vaccine were identified in the present sample. However, despite being at a higher risk, health care professionals did not show higher positive attitudes toward vaccines. Furthermore, refusal percentage to vaccination was higher among healthcare professionals compared with non-healthcare professionals. Developing a strategy to increase positive attitudes against the COVID-19 vaccine should be an objective for public health policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Iguacel
- Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | | | - Eva Samatán
- Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Judith Alarcón
- Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Orte
- Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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The Impact of the Food Labeling and Other Factors on Consumer Preferences Using Discrete Choice Modeling-The Example of Traditional Pork Sausage. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12061768. [PMID: 32545561 PMCID: PMC7353460 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In our study, we examined whether product characteristics indicated by food labels matter in purchasing decisions for sausage made from traditional Hungarian mangalica pork; and how much consumers are willing to pay for them. On the other hand, we also tried to measure whether any changes in consumers’ preferences occurred in recent years. Two product characteristics (label of origin and different mangalica meat content) and two other factors (place of purchase and price) are examined in a discrete choice experiment based on stated preference data. According to our expectations, government-funded consumer campaigns in recent years have had an impact on consumers purchase of this traditional product, and they pay more attention to food labels, which can also be influenced by sociodemographic characteristics. Our results have been compared to a previous choice-model based research, investigating consumers’ attitude towards similar mangalica pork products. Three different types of models (multinomial logit, random parameter logit, and latent class) are employed, from which two types of models account for the heterogeneity in preferences. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the advertisements promoting traditional meat consumption had only a partial effect on consumer attitudes. Consumers clearly prefer the label of origin indicating meat from registered animals and purchasing on the farmers’ market, but according to the indication of the different mangalica meat content in the product, we have already reached conflicting results. Three consumer segments were identified: “price sensitive, loyal to label, label neutral” based on latent class model estimates.
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