Consumer response to positive nutrients on the facts up front (FUF) label: A comparison between healthy and unhealthy foods and the role of nutrition motivation

Abstract

This paper reports on three experiments that examine the effects of variations in the nutrition information provided on the FUF label. Study one shows that when a positive nutrient is added to the label, unhealthy food is perceived as healthier; healthy food is unaffected. Study two extends this finding by showing that a spillover effect can occur whereby a similar unhealthy food without any front-of-pack nutrition label may also be perceived as healthier after a person is exposed to a product containing a positive nutrition fact on the FUF label. Study three utilizes eye-tracking to show effects on visual attention.