The influence of label information on the snacks parents choose for their children: Individual differences in a choice based conjoint test

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  • Ana Laura Velázquez
  • Florencia Alcaire
  • Leticia Vidal
  • Paula Varela
  • Næs, Tormod
  • Gastón Ares

Labels have been reported to influence children's perception and choice of foods. However, the influence of label information on parents’ food choices for their children has not received as much attention in the literature yet. In this context, the objectives of the present study were: i) to evaluate the impact of label information on parents' healthiness perception and choice of two popular snack products, and ii) to explore individual differences in how label design influences parents' healthiness perception and their choice of snack products for their children. A total of 1213 Uruguayan mothers participated in an online survey. A choice-based conjoint test was performed to study the influence of cartoon characters, nutritional claims and nutrient content information on the choice and healthiness perception of chocolate milk and sponge cake labels. Half of the parents were asked to indicate which of the products they would choose as a snack for their children and the other half were asked which of the products was healthier. Data was analyzed by means of a Mixed Logit Model followed by multivariate approaches to explore individual differences (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis). Results showed that, regardless of the product, nutrient claim had the strongest effect, increasing healthiness perception and encouraging mothers’ choice. For both choice and healthiness perception, two groups of mothers who differed in the relative importance attached to cartoon characters and nutrient content were identified, highlighting the need to investigate individual differences. Results stress the need to regulate the use of nutritional claims, cartoon characters, and other persuasive elements in products of poor nutritional quality targeted at children.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer104296
TidsskriftFood Quality and Preference
Vol/bind94
Antal sider9
ISSN0950-3293
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The study was conducted as part of the project “Edulia - Bringing down barriers to children’s healthy eating”, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 764985. Financial support was also received from Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica (Universidad de la República, Uruguay) and Espacio Interdisciplinario (Universidad de la República, Uruguay). Authors Tormod Naes & Paula Varela also received financial support from the Norwegian Fund for Research Fees for Agricultural Products (FFL), through the research program “FoodForFuture” (project number 314318; 2021–2024).

Funding Information:
The study was conducted as part of the project ?Edulia - Bringing down barriers to children's healthy eating?, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie grant agreement No 764985. Financial support was also received from Comisi?n Sectorial de Investigaci?n Cient?fica (Universidad de la Rep?blica, Uruguay) and Espacio Interdisciplinario (Universidad de la Rep?blica, Uruguay). Authors Tormod Naes & Paula Varela also received financial support from the Norwegian Fund for Research Fees for Agricultural Products (FFL), through the research program ?FoodForFuture? (project number 314318; 2021?2024).

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© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

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