Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children

Tania Cabrera (), Carlos E. Carpio (), Oscar Sarasty (), Susan E. Watson () and María-Susana Gonzalez ()
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Tania Cabrera: Universidad Nacional de Loja
Carlos E. Carpio: Texas Tech University
Oscar Sarasty: Texas Tech University
Susan E. Watson: University of North Texas
María-Susana Gonzalez: Universidad Nacional de Loja

Agricultural and Food Economics, 2023, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-24

Abstract: Abstract Objective This study evaluates the effects of traffic light (TL) nutritional label attributes on children’s food choices. Data were collected from a survey of 1179 Ecuadorian students attending public middle and high school in three major cities in the country’s southern region (Machala, Loja, and Zamora). The survey instrument included two sets of choice experiments: one with yogurt products and the other with soft drinks (sodas and juices). In the choice scenarios, children were presented with two products that differed in price and the TL label colors for sugar, salt, and fat. Children’s product selections in the choice experiments were analyzed using mixed logit models. The results indicate that labels affect food choices. Additionally, children are willing to pay increasing premium levels for products with yellow, green, and “does not contain” labels compared to products with red labels. Overall, the study’s findings offer evidence that TL labels are effective in helping children make food choices consistent with their preferences for food products with TL labels representing healthier alternatives.

Keywords: Nutrition; Labeling; Choice experiment; Children; Willingness to pay; Ecuador (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1186/s40100-023-00280-9

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