Work

The “organic” path to obesity? Organic claims influence calorie judgments and exercise recommendations

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Labeling a food as “organic” entails a claim about its production but is silent on its calorie content. Nevertheless, people infer that organic cookies are lower in calories and can be eaten more often than conventional cookies (Study 1). These inferences are observed even when the nutrition label conveys identical calorie content and are more pronounced among perceivers high on pro-environmentalism. Moreover, when evaluating a person with a weight-loss goal, forgoing exercise is deemed more acceptable when the person has just chosen organic rather than conventional dessert (Study 2). These results reflect an “organic/natural”-“healthy” association that is capable of biasing everyday judgments about diet and exercise.

Source: Judgment and Decision Making

DOI: 10.1017/s1930297500001017

Authors: Jonathon P. Schuldt, Norbert Schwarz

Institution: University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550