Search

Individuals perceive organic food as being healthier and containing fewer calories than conventional foods. We provide an alternative way to investigate this organic halo effect using a mirrored method to Choice Experiments applied to healthiness judgments. In an experimental study (N = 415), we examined whether healthiness judgments toward a 200 g cookie box are impacted by the organic label, nutrition information (fat and sugar levels), and price and determined the relative importance of these attributes. In particular, we assessed whether food with an organic label could contain more fat or sugar and yet be judged to be of equivalent healthiness to food without this label. We hoped to estimate the magnitude of any such effect. Moreover, we explored whether these effects were obtained when including a widely used system for labeling food healthiness, the Traffic Light System. Although participants' healthiness choices were mainly driven by the reported fat and sugar content, the organic label also influenced healthiness judgments. Participants showed an organic halo effect leading them to consider the organic cookie as healthy as a conventional one despite containing more fat and sugar. Specifically, they considered the organic cookie as equivalent in healthiness to a conventional one, although containing 14% more of the daily reference intake for sugar and 30% more for fat. These effects did not change when including the Traffic Light System. This effect of the organic label could have implications for fat and sugar intake and consequent impacts on health outcomes.

This contribution investigates the role of food product attributes on consumer choices focusing on different production processes, labeled as ‘traditional’ or ‘industrial’. More specifically, we aim at documenting a novel halo (positive) effect of the Tradition label versus a horn (negative) effect of the Industrial label on the implicit and explicit perceptions of healthiness and tastiness of a food product using an experimental design as well as potential moderation effects of pro-environmental beliefs. In four studies, we manipulated the label of two brands of cheese regarding their production process (Study 1 and Study 2: traditional vs. industrial, Study 3: traditional vs. no label, Study 4: industrial vs. no label) and we measured implicit (with SC-IAT in Study 1, SA-IAT in Study 2, and IAT in Study 3 & 4) and explicit (self-report) perceptions of healthiness and tastiness. Results showed a Tradition halo effect and an Industrial horn effect on explicit perceptions of tastiness and healthiness. Results on implicit perceptions of healthiness seem to depend to some extent on pro-environmental beliefs. Results suggest that tradition-labeled food should be introduced in conventional supermarkets instead of investing in the opening of new specialized stores.

Plant-based meat alternatives have grown tremendously in recent years, with an unprecedented increase in vegan and meat-sounding labelled products appearing on European Union shelves. However, a regulation clarifying what the “vegan” label means and if “meat-sounding” names should be allowed when referring to plant-based foods is still lacking. Led by opposite reasons, both vegetarian and meat producers' associations are demanding to fill this legal void. Our paper contributes to this debate by providing the results of two online experiments that measures how consumers perceive plant-based meat substitutes based on vegan vs. meat-sounding labelling. The results of the first study showed that meat-sounding labels applied to plant-based food altered perceived healthiness, but not other characteristics of the product. The second study indicated that vegan labelling exerted a negative effect on the consumers’ perception of tastiness and healthiness, and willingness to buy of plant-based foods. Importantly, these effects were moderated by the consumers’ attitudes towards meat-eating and veganism. In line with these results, we propose that the explicit use of the “vegan” label might be counterproductive to increase the sales of plant-based foods, and that the biasing impact of meat-sounding labels on plant-based food's perception is weak.

The paper explores the (mis)perceptions related to local food to identify potential halo effects. It also investigates whether product beliefs relate to the food category itself or to its perceived attributes. 133 students answered a questionnaire regarding four cheeses labelled as local, conventional, organic, or PDO. Results show that local claims lead to perceiving the cheese as healthier, but less hygienic. Results suggest also other two potential halos: (i) the "tradition halo" that links perceived traditional character to healthiness and taste; and (ii) the "environmental and animal care halo" that links respect for environment and animal welfare to food safety.

aaa

© 2015. Knowledge of both the life history characteristics and catch and effort statistics of exploited deep-water fishes such as snappers and groupers is typically limited. This contributes to increased uncertainty in stock assessments and, depending on the diligence in governance, is more likely to result in either highly conservative or unsustainable management arrangements. Developments, challenges and advances in the methods for obtaining life history data for these species were discussed at a workshop in May 2015. The key points raised included nascent methods for otolith sectioning and interpretation, the need for standardised international ageing protocols and the issues and challenges in characterising reproductive maturation, including during non-spawning months due to resource limitations. Strategic research directions are identified to address knowledge gaps and thus better inform fisheries management.