Food Labelling: Systematic Reviews
A Meta-Analysis of Food Labeling Effects on Consumer Diet Behaviors and Industry Practices
This meta-analysis reviewed 60 intervention studies in 11 countries to provide information of food labelling effects on different consumer’s behaviours.
This study evaluated the nutritional quality of foods labelled with claims available in the Slovenian market using two nutrient profile models: the Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the European World Health Organization Regional office for Europe model.
This report summarises the evidence on the development and implementation of interpretive front-of-pack food labelling policies across the WHO European Region to support policymakers in navigating the different policies.
The role of nutritional labelling and signposting from a European perspective
The aim of this paper was to "summarise developments in nutrition labelling information and signposting, the legislation that controls on-pack declarations, and research conducted to assess whether or not the information is used, understood and supports healthier choices."
Front-of-package nutrition labelling policy: global progress and future directions
Globally, a variety of front-of-package nutrition labelling systems co-exist. The aims of front-of-pack nutrition label is (i) to communicate complex information to consumers in an easily understood, standardised format, to guide inform and shape consumers food choice and behaviours and (ii) to stimulate industry reformulation.
The study "reviewed the potential effectiveness of policy actions to improve healthy food consumption and thus prevent non-communicable diseases of 58 systematic and non-systematic reviews." The review "categorised data using seven-part framework: price, promotion, provision, composition, labelling, supply chain, trade/investment and multi-component interventions."
This study aims to assess "the effectiveness of food labelling in increasing the selection of healthier products and in reducing calorie intake. In addition, this study compares the relative effectiveness of traffic light schemes, Guideline Daily Amount and other food labelling schemes."
This paper "compares and provides an overview of all FOP labels currently in practice or in preparation in Europe." It compares six positive front-of-pack labels, two mixed front-of-pack labels and one negative front-of-pack label.
Nutrient-Based Warning Labels May Help in the Pursuit of Healthy Diets
This commentary argues that "that the newest paradigm of FOP labels, represented by the Chilean warning label, has the greatest potential to promote healthy diets and is better aligned with food-based dietary guidelins and their central messages of eating a diversity of core, plant-based foods (whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, vegetables) and avoiding noncore foods compared with the Keyhole symbol, the multiple traffic-light label, the Health Star Ratings system, and the 5-Color Nutrition label."
Future directions to prevent obesity within the context of the Global Syndemic
While countries are in different stages of the obesity transition, no country has successfully reduced overweight or obesity rates across all segments of its population. The policy responses from national governments to prevent and manage obesity, and in particular to drive systemic changes, have been inadequate to date due to “policy inertia”, which is driven by a lack of government leadership, commercial pressure and industry opposition to government interventions, and a weak demand for change by the public and civil society sectors.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published by researchers at the Queen Mary University of London called for mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling to support consumers to make, and the food industry to provide, healthier choices. The research looked at the literature and peer-reviewed publications since 1990, randomised controlled trials.
Front-of-pack nutrition labelling schemes: a comprehensive review
This study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) reviews the literature and scientific evidence on front-of-pack nutrition labelling.
