Work

Combining positioning and labelling interventions for healthier and more environmentally sustainable products: A randomised controlled trial in an online experimental supermarket

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Population diets need to become healthier and more sustainable to limit their negative effects on health and environment. This study assessed the effect of a positioning intervention, in isolation and in combination with a labelling intervention, on the a) healthiness and b) environmental sustainability of food choices in an experimental online supermarket. Participants (n = 2220) were randomly assigned to one of five trials groups (control; healthier items shown earlier ("health position"); health position & nutri-score labels; environmentally sustainable products shown earlier ("eco position"); eco position & ecolabels) and completed a shopping task in an experimental online supermarket. Linear regressions showed that compared to control, mean scaled nutri-scores of shopping baskets were significantly lower (healthier) for health position (-2.30; 95 %CI: -3.07, -1.52) and health position & labels (-2.50; 95 %CI: -3.28, -1.72), with no significant difference between health position and health position & labels (-0.20; 95 %CI: -0.66, 0.25). The mean eco scores of shopping baskets were significantly reduced (more sustainable) for eco position (-24 %; 95 %CIs: -15 %, -31 %) and eco position & labels (-30 %; 95 % CIs: -22 %, 37 %) compared to control. The eco position & labels group had significantly lower mean eco scores (-8 %; 95 % CIs: -2 %, -14 %) compared to eco position. The positioning intervention improved health and environmental sustainability of food selections in an experimental online supermarket, with less robust evidence for a small additional effect of adding labels. There was no suggestion that adding labels that potentially make the positioning intervention more salient had any backfire effects.

Source: Appetite

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108378

Authors: Cinja Jostock, Alice O'Hagan, Rachel Pechey

Institution: University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,190