Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the process of implementation and impact of a front-of-pack labeling intervention on purchases of labeled food products. Participants: A convenience sample of 111 college students were recruited to complete a survey as they exited markets where the intervention was being implemented. Participants had to have purchased at least one consumable item. Methods: Intercept surveys and audits were conducted at three markets, two times each over a period of three weeks. Results: The audits indicated high implementation fidelity (82% overall). However, customer surveys revealed that only 42% noticed the front-of-pack sticker, and the majority (89%) did not purchase an item with the sticker. However, customers who noticed the sticker were significantly more likely to purchase an item with the sticker (p = .002). Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of a front-of-pack labeling intervention in a university market setting.
Conflict of interest disclosure
The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from San Diego State University.
Funding
No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.