Comparative understanding and preference of Nutri-Score and NutrInform Battery in a sample of Spanish consumers

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 293 - 298
• Main Authors: Fialon, Morgane, Babio, Nancy, Salas-Salvadó, Jordi, Galan, Pilar, Kesse-Guyot, Emmanuelle, Touvier, Mathilde, Deschasaux-Tanguy, Mélanie, Sarda, Barthélémy, Hercberg, Serge, Khoury, Nadine, Nabec, Lydiane, Julia, Chantal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-04-2023; Oxford Publishing Limited (England); Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option D
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Breakfast cereals; Cereals; Choice Behavior; Consumer Behavior; Consumers; Descriptive labeling; Diet; Diet, Healthy; Ecology, environment; Evaluation; Female; Food; Food consumption; Food Labeling; Food Preferences; Food products; Food quality; Health; Health behavior; Health promotion; Humans; Labels; Life Sciences; Male; Nutrition; Nutritive Value; Objectives; Principal components analysis; Public health; Public health administration; Social aspects; Spain
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad002

Abstract
Background
Interpretive front-of-pack labels (FoPLs) are supported by World Health Organization as an important policy tool to promote healthy diets. At present, various FoPLs formats co-exist in the European Union (EU). However, as part of the Farm to Fork strategy published in 2020, the European Commission stated that it would propose a single mandatory FoPL. The aim of this study was to analyze Spanish consumers’ preference and objective understanding of Nutri-Score and NutrInform, two FoPLs that are currently the subject of debate in the EU.
Methods
In a representative sample of 1026 Spanish adults (50% women, mean age ± SD = 46 ± 14 years), objective understanding was assessed by asking participants to identify the healthiest food products in three food categories (breakfast products, breakfast cereals and added fats). The preference dimensions were tested by asking participants about the perceived helpfulness of the FoPL in discriminating the nutritional quality of food products (subjective understanding) and their overall assessment of the FoPL’s ease of use, informativeness, trust and liking (perception).
Results
In terms of objective understanding, Nutri-Score was significantly associated with an increase in consumers’ ability to identify healthier food products across all food categories compared with NutrInform [OR (odds ratio) = 19.1 [14.2–25.7], P < 0.0001]. On the preference dimension, Nutri-Score was perceived as significantly easier to use and was more liked than NutrInform (standardized principal component analysis dimension, respectively, 0.32 ± 1.58 vs. −0.29 ± 1.66, P < 0.0001 and 0.080 ± 1.18 vs. −0.072 ± 1.17, P = 0.039).
Conclusions
This study provides new evidence to support Nutri-Score in comparison with NutrInform in Spanish consumers, on both objective understanding and preference aspects.