Researchers tested different types of food labels with over 3,000 Latino adults in the US to see which ones helped people identify unhealthy foods. They found that simple text labels saying ‘high in’ sugar, salt, or fat worked better than number-based labels for spotting the worst food choices. However, these warning labels only helped people who were fluent in English, not those with limited English skills. The labels didn’t help anyone identify the healthiest foods or change what they said they would buy.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether warning labels on food packages help Latino consumers identify healthy and unhealthy frozen foods
  • Who participated: 3,053 Latino adults living in the US, with about half having limited English skills
  • Key finding: Text warning labels helped people spot unhealthy foods 49% of the time versus 44% with number labels, but only for English-fluent participants
  • What it means for you: Warning labels may help you avoid unhealthy foods if you’re comfortable reading English, but current designs may not help Spanish-dominant shoppers

The Research Details

This was an online experiment where researchers randomly showed participants one of three types of food labels. Some people saw regular nutrition labels with numbers showing sugar, salt, and fat content. Others saw text labels that clearly stated when foods were ‘high in’ these nutrients. A third group saw the same text labels plus a magnifying glass icon to draw attention. Participants then looked at pictures of frozen pies, pizzas, and meals with these labels and had to pick which foods were healthiest and least healthy in each group.

This type of controlled experiment helps researchers understand cause and effect. By randomly assigning different labels to people, they could see if the labels themselves made a difference in food choices, rather than other factors influencing the results.

This study had a large sample size and used proper randomization, which makes the results more reliable. However, it was done online with pictures rather than real shopping, which may not reflect how people actually behave in stores.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that text warning labels helped people identify the least healthy foods better than number-based labels. People correctly spotted unhealthy foods 49% of the time with text labels compared to 44% with number labels. However, this improvement only happened for people who were fluent in English. The labels with icons didn’t work significantly better than regular number labels. Surprisingly, none of the warning labels helped people identify the healthiest foods any better than number labels - everyone got this right about 45-46% of the time regardless of label type.

The warning labels didn’t help people identify when individual foods were high in sugar, salt, or fat any better than number labels. They also didn’t change what foods people said they would actually buy. The icon labels, which researchers thought might help people with limited English, didn’t provide any additional benefit over text-only warning labels.

This study focused specifically on Latino populations, which hasn’t been well-studied before with these types of labels. Previous research on warning labels has shown mixed results in general populations, and this study suggests the benefits may be even more limited for people with language barriers.

The study was done online with pictures rather than real shopping experiences. Participants only looked at frozen foods, so results might not apply to other food categories. The study measured what people could identify rather than what they actually purchased, and real shopping behavior might be different.

The Bottom Line

Warning labels on food packages may help you spot unhealthy options if you’re comfortable reading English, but current designs need improvement for Spanish-dominant shoppers. Don’t rely solely on any front-of-package labels - always check the full nutrition facts panel when making food choices.

Latino families doing grocery shopping, especially those comfortable with English. Policymakers and food companies should note that current label designs may not help all consumers equally.

The benefits of warning labels would be immediate when shopping, but this study suggests many people may not see these benefits, especially those with limited English proficiency.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Log your grocery shopping choices and note whether you check nutrition labels, and track if warning labels influence your food purchases
  • Practice reading nutrition facts panels on frozen foods and compare products within the same category to build label-reading skills
  • Track your ability to identify high-sodium, high-sugar, and high-fat foods over time to see if your nutrition label reading improves

This research shows how different food labels affect food identification in an online setting. Individual responses may vary, and this study doesn’t prove that warning labels will change actual purchasing behavior or health outcomes. Always consult with healthcare providers for personalized nutrition advice.