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The Effects of Nutrition Label Comparison Baselines on Consumers' Food Choices

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  • Sophie Hieke
  • Christopher L. Newman

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="joca12095-abs-0001"> Recent legislative changes in the European Union have mandated nutrition labeling for the majority of pre-packaged foods. This research compared effects of several nutrition labeling formats on consumers' food choices (i.e., the nutrition table, GDA 100 g/ml, and GDA portion). We primarily focused on whether nutrition label information was standardized to a fixed or varying comparison baseline. Fixed baselines (e.g., 100 g/ml) allow consumers to make direct, relative comparisons of products, while varying baselines (e.g., portion size) often require consumers to undertake complex mathematical calculations. Findings suggest that consumers' food choices are likely to be healthier when nutrition label information is presented on a fixed baseline. Gender was found to moderate these effects such that women made healthier choices—but only when the nutrition label baseline was fixed. Thus, the type of comparison baseline is an important characteristic of nutrition labels for public policymakers, public health officials, and academic researchers to consider.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Hieke & Christopher L. Newman, 2015. "The Effects of Nutrition Label Comparison Baselines on Consumers' Food Choices," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(3), pages 613-626, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:49:y:2015:i:3:p:613-626
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/joca.12095
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Malhotra, Naresh K, 1982. "Information Load and Consumer Decision Making," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 8(4), pages 419-430, March.
    2. Christine Moorman & Rex Du & Carl F. Mela, 2005. "The Effect of Standardized Information on Firm Survival and Marketing Strategies," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 263-274, September.
    3. Sophie Hieke & Charles R. Taylor, 2012. "A Critical Review of the Literature on Nutritional Labeling," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 120-156, March.
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    3. Iina Ikonen & Francesca Sotgiu & Aylin Aydinli & Peeter W. J. Verlegh, 2020. "Consumer effects of front-of-package nutrition labeling: an interdisciplinary meta-analysis," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 360-383, May.
    4. Marie‐Eve Laporte & Sophie Rieunier & Geraldine Michel, 2020. "When family dining protects against sweet food consumption… and when it does not," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 628-647, June.

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