Rob McNeill, PhD School of Population Health University of Auckland New Zealand

 One of the popular ways in which we have tried to promote healthy food choices is by providing nutritional information  Some examples of these include:  Nutrition panels (energy, fat, sugar, salt, etc.)  Food energy information (calories/kilojoules)  ‘Traffic light’ systems  New system for Australia (& NZ?) – Star system

 Nutritional panels and food energy information can have an effect  Often quite a small effect  Many studies have found no effect  Effect might be greater for the most unhealthy foods  If we give extra information, such as recommended daily intake (RDI), the effect seems to increase (sometimes)  Traffic light systems can have an effect  Consumers prefer this system  Some studies have found clinically significant effects  Some studies have found no effect, or a very small effect  The ‘feeling’ among ‘experts’ seems to be that this system should be more effective than calorie information ▪ It is easier to interpret ▪ It sends a clearer message ▪ It is not usually just based on one nutritional fact (e.g. calories)

 Study 1: Food Energy Information in a Non-Fast Food Setting  Online survey  439 Students randomised to 1 of 2 conditions: ▪ Menus with and without food energy information  Asked to make two selections – breakfast & lunch  In two social situations – with friends or family  Study 2: Nutrition Panel & Traffic Light System in a Fast Food Setting  Online survey  357 students randomised to 1 of 3 conditions ▪ Menu with no nutritional information ▪ Menu with nutrition panel information (kilojoules, fat, sugar, salt) ▪ Menu with multiple traffic light system (overall, kilojoules, fat, sugar, salt)  Asked to make food choices – burger, sides & drink

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 No clear and consistent evidence that providing nutritional information would actually make a difference at a clinical or population level  We simply don’t have a big enough body of research  So why are governments currently implementing systems that have little evidence?  The food industry does not want anything that will reduce consumption of any foods  “there are no unhealthy foods, only unhealthy diets” argement  We need to build the body of evidence to help the argument for whether we should be pushing for these labels, and if so, which system will work the best