Food labelling: consumer feedback studies

A suite of new evidence is available to help inform policy makers and practitioners involved with food information. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling, alcohol content, place of origin, and other labelling practices have been assessed by the Joint Research Council (JRC).

A synthesis of these research findings promoted this month indicates that information about both country of origin and place or region of origin is shown to have a substantial influence on consumers’ food choices. In addition, menu labels, shelf-labels, and point-of-sale signs, can be more effective at influencing consumers towards healthy behaviours, when compared to online means that require external tools (i.e. QR codes or website links) to access the information.

Consumers generally value front-of-pack nutrition labels as a quick and easy way to acquire nutrition information when making purchase decisions. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling also seems to provide incentives to food businesses to improve the nutritional quality of their products, such as by reducing added salt or sugars.