A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Food consumption motivations override and moderate the effect of nutrition label on responses to (un)healthy products
Authors: Kantola, Maija; Junkkari, Terhi; Hopia, Anu; Luomala, Harri
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Food Quality and Preference
Journal name in source: Food Quality and Preference
Article number: 105568
Volume: 131
ISSN: 0950-3293
eISSN: 1873-6343
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105568
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105568
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/498919735
Front-of-package (FOP) labels, highlighting key nutrition information of food products, have garnered interest as a means to promote healthy eating. However, previous studies have shown limited effects of FOP labels, warranting further investigation. This paper examines how an interpretive summary indicator FOP label influences consumers' cognitive, senso-emotional, and behavioural responses to (un)healthy ready-to-eat meals. Additionally, it explores the role of consumer motivations (health, pleasure, and sustainability) in relation to a FOP label. Two between-subject studies were conducted online (Study 1: N = 516) and in a lab (Study 2: N = 116), along with a real-life experiment in a lunch buffet (Study 3: N = 1166). Studies 1 and 2 revealed that consumer motivations had a greater impact than a FOP label on cognitive (nutrient content and healthiness perceptions, purchase intention) and senso-emotional (taste perceptions and emotions) responses. Motivations also moderated the FOP label's impact: FOP label improved emotions related to the unhealthy product among health-conscious consumers, suggesting a health halo effect. FOP label might also be a sign to consume more among those not motivated by health, pleasure, or sustainability. In Study 3, demonstrating the behavioural impact, FOP label either increased or had no effect on the proportion of healthy food consumed, depending on the product. The results indicate that FOP labels have limited and mixed effects on product responses and may even be counterproductive in promoting healthy diets among some consumers. These findings assist policymakers and food marketers in identifying consumer groups and products that benefit from FOP labels indicating better nutritional quality.
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Funding information in the publication:
This work was supported by Business Finland [1199/31/2020, University of Vaasa; 1197/31/2020, Seinajoki ¨ University of Applied Sciences; 1194/31/2020, University of Turku].