Warning labels make people order less sugary food: A new study on labels and food choices

It's always better to be informed about the food you eat - and that's why we need special labels.

A new experiment shows that adding labels warning about added sugars help people make healthier choices in restaurants and cafes.

Let's find out more about it.

A curious experiment

During a new online experiment, specialists found that warning labels about added sugar significantly reduced the likelihood of people ordering items with lots of added sugar.

These labels can help inform individuals about the surprising levels of added sugar in things like soda, salad dressings, and sauces.

However, only 21% of the participants noticed these labels.

Among those who did, there was a reduction of 4.9 grams of added sugar ordered compared to the group without labels.

It's estimated that nearly 20% of calories consumed in the U.S. come from restaurants, so these labels could make a meaningful difference in sugar intake.

How it was conducted

The experiment involved over 15,000 people, and they were given menus from fast-food and full-service chain restaurants to simulate ordering.

Half had added-sugar warning labels on their menus, while the other half did not.

The labels were added to items with over 50% of the recommended daily limit for added sugar.

Why is it important?

The experiment is the first to test how such labels affect people's behavior in a restaurant setting.

Notably, 72% of participants supported a law requiring chain restaurants to include these warning labels on their menus.

Currently, there's no requirement for restaurants to disclose added sugar content in their foods.
 

• Related news:
• research
• sugar
• food
• labels
• 26 September 2023

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