Researchers tested different types of labels on food packages to see which ones help people make healthier choices when shopping. They had over 5,600 people shop in a fake online grocery store and compared six different labeling systems. The study found that labels showing a color spectrum (like a traffic light from red to green) worked best at helping people pick healthier foods. Surprisingly, the FDA’s new proposed labels didn’t work as well as the spectrum labels. This research suggests that how we design food labels really matters when it comes to helping people eat better.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do different types of warning labels on food packages help people buy healthier foods and drinks?
  • Who participated: 5,636 American adults who do most of their household grocery shopping. About 60% were women, with an average age of 40 years old.
  • Key finding: Spectrum labels (like traffic lights showing green for healthy to red for unhealthy) helped people pick healthier foods. The FDA’s new proposed labels didn’t work better than simple positive labels that just highlight good things about food.
  • What it means for you: If you shop for groceries, spectrum-style labels might help you make healthier choices more easily than other label types. However, this was tested in a simulated store, so real-world results might be different.

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which is one of the strongest types of research studies. Researchers randomly assigned 5,636 people to see one of six different types of food labels while shopping in a simulated online grocery store between October and November 2024. The six label types included: positive labels only (highlighting good things), the FDA’s proposed Nutrition Info labels, positive labels combined with Nutrition Info, High In labels (warning about bad nutrients), positive labels combined with High In labels, and spectrum labels (rating foods on a scale from least to most healthy). Everyone shopped for the same foods and drinks, and researchers measured how healthy their purchases were using a standard scoring system.

The study was well-designed because it controlled for many factors that could affect results. All participants saw the same products and had the same shopping experience, just with different label types. This makes it easier to know that any differences in their choices came from the labels themselves, not from other factors.

Researchers used the United Kingdom’s Ofcom Nutrient Profiling Model to score how healthy each person’s purchases were. This model looks at things like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars to give foods a score from 0 to 100, with higher scores meaning healthier choices.

This research matters because the FDA is considering new food labels to help Americans make healthier choices. Before spending money and effort to change all food labels nationwide, it’s important to know which label designs actually work. Testing this in a controlled study shows which labels genuinely help people buy healthier foods, rather than just guessing.

This study has several strengths: it’s a randomized controlled trial (the gold standard for testing interventions), it has a large sample size (5,636 people), and it was published in a reputable medical journal. However, the study was conducted online in a simulated store, which may not perfectly match how people shop in real grocery stores. People might behave differently when they know they’re being studied, and they might make different choices with real money at stake.

What the Results Show

Spectrum labels (which rate foods on a scale from least to most healthy, similar to traffic light systems) were the clear winner. People who saw spectrum labels bought significantly healthier foods compared to those who only saw positive labels. The difference was small but consistent and statistically significant.

Surprisingly, the FDA’s proposed Nutrition Info labels did not help people buy healthier foods compared to positive labels alone. This was unexpected because these labels were designed to warn people about unhealthy nutrients like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. The High In labels (which specifically highlight when products contain high levels of bad nutrients) also didn’t work better than positive labels.

Combining positive labels with warning labels (either Nutrition Info or High In) didn’t improve results either. This suggests that mixing positive messages with warning messages might confuse people or cancel each other out.

Interestingly, the benefits of spectrum labels worked equally well for everyone, regardless of how much nutrition knowledge they had, their income level, or their education. This means spectrum labels could help all Americans make healthier choices, not just those who are already nutrition-savvy.

The study looked at whether different groups of people responded differently to the labels. They found that nutrition literacy (how much people know about nutrition), household income, and education level didn’t change how well the labels worked. This is good news because it means effective labels could help everyone, not just educated or wealthy shoppers.

This research builds on previous studies about food labeling. Earlier research suggested that warning labels and simple positive labels had mixed results. This study is one of the first to directly compare spectrum labels (like those used in other countries) with the FDA’s new proposed labels in a large, controlled experiment. The finding that spectrum labels outperform the FDA’s proposal is significant and suggests the FDA might want to reconsider their approach.

The biggest limitation is that this study used a simulated online grocery store, not a real one. People might make different choices when spending real money or shopping in person. The study also only included people who do most of their household shopping, so results might not apply to everyone. Additionally, the study was conducted over just a few weeks, so it doesn’t show whether label effects last over time or if people get used to the labels and stop paying attention to them.

The Bottom Line

If you’re trying to eat healthier, look for foods with spectrum-style labels (like traffic light systems) that rate products from green (healthiest) to red (least healthy). These appear to be more helpful than other label types for making quick, healthy choices. If your grocery store doesn’t have spectrum labels yet, focus on reading the nutrition facts panel and looking for foods lower in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. (Confidence: Moderate - based on simulated shopping, not real-world purchases)

Everyone who buys groceries could benefit from better food labels. This research is especially relevant for people trying to reduce their intake of saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars. Food companies, grocery stores, and policymakers should pay attention to these findings when deciding which labeling systems to use. The FDA should consider whether spectrum labels might work better than their current proposal.

In this study, people made healthier choices immediately when they saw spectrum labels. However, this was during a single shopping session. It’s unclear how long these benefits would last in real life or whether people would continue making healthier choices over weeks and months.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the ‘healthiness score’ of your weekly grocery purchases using a simple 1-10 scale. Rate how many foods you bought had warning labels for saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars versus how many were marked as healthier options.
  • When using a grocery shopping app, enable label notifications that highlight spectrum-style ratings or nutrition warnings. Set a weekly goal to purchase at least 3-5 foods with the healthiest ratings available.
  • Every two weeks, review your purchase history and calculate what percentage of your foods fell into the ‘healthier’ category. Aim to gradually increase this percentage over 8-12 weeks. Use the app to compare your choices against baseline and celebrate improvements.

This research was conducted in a simulated online grocery store environment and may not reflect real-world shopping behavior or food choices made with actual money. The findings suggest that spectrum labels may be more effective than other labeling systems, but this study does not provide medical advice. Individuals with specific dietary needs or health conditions should consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making significant changes to their diet based on food labels. The FDA has not yet finalized any new labeling requirements, and regulations may change. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical or nutritional guidance.