Assessing Front-of-Package Health Labeling Under New FDA Proposed Guidelines

Last registered on March 19, 2024

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Assessing Front-of-Package Health Labeling Under New FDA Proposed Guidelines
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0013032
Initial registration date
March 19, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
March 19, 2024, 5:42 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
University of Florida

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
University of Florida
PI Affiliation
University of Florida
PI Affiliation
University of Florida
PI Affiliation
Texas A&M University

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2024-03-01
End date
2024-07-01
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Suboptimal diets refer to dietary patterns that deviate from established nutritional guidelines and recommendations. Such diets significantly contribute to diet-related chronic diseases, accounting for approximately one in five adult deaths. Over the past two decades, there have been notable improvements in the diets of Americans. However, a significant number still grapple with inadequate diets. To address this issue more effectively, a Front-of-Pack (FOP) labeling system has been introduced in the United States (US). This system aims to offer relevant nutritional information, attract consumer attention, and nudge consumers towards healthier food choices. However, existing FOP labels have shown limitations in successfully guiding consumers towards more nutritious food options. Acknowledging these concerns, the FDA announced plans in September 2022 to revise the criteria for current health claims commonly featured on FOP labels. This initiative is a response to the need for more effective labels that can successfully nudge consumers towards making healthier food choices. The FDA proposed 15 candidates for "FDA healthy symbols" that food manufacturers can use if their products meet certain criteria to be classified as healthy (e.g., low in sugar, saturated fat, and sodium). These “authority-endorsed” food labels aim to offer consumers essential information that guides them towards healthier food choices. Using the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak method in a lab experiment, this study will focus on evaluating consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for yogurt products that meet the criteria for the FDA healthy symbol. Specifically, we designed 5 treatments that feature different FOP label combinations and detailed description of the criteria, aiming to understand the influence of various FOP label combinations, including the new FDA healthy symbols and taste claims, on consumer purchasing decisions.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Fang, Di et al. 2024. "Assessing Front-of-Package Health Labeling Under New FDA Proposed Guidelines ." AEA RCT Registry. March 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13032-1.0
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
The control group will observe the yogurt solely without seeing any information or labels. In contrast, subjects in all 5 treatment groups will observe one or a combination of different FOPs or descriptive information regarding the new FDA health symbol on the yogurt product. Specifically, two treatment groups (1 and 2) will observe the health label and the taste label on the yogurt package, respectively. One group (3) will view the health label and the taste label simultaneously. The remaining two groups (4 and 5) will first observe exactly what Treatment 1 and Treatment 3 observe, but they will receive additional detailed information on the FDA's health symbol criteria, outlining the qualifications for product endorsement.
Intervention Start Date
2024-03-01
Intervention End Date
2024-05-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
We have one dependent variable, which is the consumers' willingness to pay for the product.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will conduct a randomized lab experiment to elicit consumers' WTP for yogurt products that meet the FDA proposed requirement of "healthy." Recruitment will occur through two methods: posting IRB-approved invitations on local Facebook groups and distributing flyers randomly in local malls and grocery stores. Eligible participants—U.S. citizens or residents, over 18, primary household shoppers, regular yogurt consumers, not pregnant or breastfeeding, without dietary restrictions, allergies, or diabetes—will be invited to a University of Florida-affiliated facility. Data will be collected via Qualtrics for analysis. The subjects will observe a cup of commercial yogurt product that is fully covered with a wrapper we designed. In additional to the treatment information, the wrapper contains information including the product's name, volume, flavor, a picture of strawberry, nutrition facts panel, and list of ingredients. Once they have finished the experiment, the subjects will be paid $30 reduced by a random number in the BDM auction for successful bids, or receive $30 for unsuccessful bids.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer using stata.
Randomization Unit
We randomize at the individual level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
The sample consists of adult consumers in Gainesville, Florida.
Sample size: planned number of observations
300 observations (adult individuals)
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
50 observations for each of the 6 arms (1 control group and 5 treatment groups)
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
UF IRB
IRB Approval Date
2023-10-27
IRB Approval Number
ET00021132
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials