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Warning labels (WLs) are the newest paradigm of nutrient-based, front-of-package labels (FOP) that have been consistently shown to be more effective at informing consumer purchases than other FOP labels. Their effectiveness may be attributed to their design and the consistency in the information they communicate. The present study assessed designs effects of WLs in improving understanding and perceptions among 2419 Brazilian adults. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four study arms in an online, randomized, controlled experiment: (1) the Triangular WL 'A lot of /Muito' (Muito); (2) Triangular WL 'High in/Alto em' (Alto); (3) the Chilean WL 'High in/Alto em' (Chile); and (4) a control condition (no WL). Participants responded to a series of questions, while viewing images of 9 products, that assessed their understanding of the nutrient content of the product, its healthfulness, and their intentions to purchase. All aggregate differences in responses between study arms were estimated using oneway-ANOVAs. WLs were superior to the list of ingredients and the nutrition facts panel in improving participant understanding and perceptions of the nutrient profile of products, particularly in helping identify nutrients in excess. Alto was significantly better than the control at identifying which of the two products contained an excess of nutrients and at improving consumer understanding of nutrient content across different indicators. Alto, followed by Muito, was also better at communicating that fewer WLs signified a healthier product. The Muito WL was significantly more visible to participants than the Chile WL. There were no differences between study arms in shifting consumer purchase intentions. In this study, WLs were an important addition to the current nutrition label. The triangular symbol, the white background and the signal word, 'High in/ Alto em' showed consistently better results than the signal word 'A lot of/ Muito' and the octagonal symbol. These design elements serve to make WLs more visible to consumers, capturing their attention and informing their food evaluations, and may have greater potential to influence appropriate for a Brazilian audience. Unlabelled Image • Warning labels (WLs) are comprised of a colored symbol for an alert, and a signal word. • The triangular WL with the signal word, 'High in/ Alto em ' demonstrated some advantages over an octagonal WL and the signal word 'A lot of/ Muito '. • The white contrasting background increased the visibility of the triangular WL. • WLs were more informative than the list of ingredients and the nutrition facts panel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess consumers’ uses of and opinions on the current Brazilian food label and their reaction to the introduction of a front-of-package warning label. We conducted 12 focus groups among a diverse sample of adult consumers, to broadly assess: (1) uses of and perceptions about the current food label, and (2) opinions about implementing a front-of-package warning label to guide food purchases. Data was analyzed with a triangulation of researchers using an exploratory content analysis, which allowed codes to emerge from the data. The frequency of codes across focus groups was compared by gender and socioeconomic status to explore differences by these sociodemographic factors. Codes were divided into six main themes: (1) “Reasons for using food labels”; (2) “Barriers to using food labels”; (3) “Requirements for a new label”; (4) “Perceived influence on consumption behaviors”; (5) “Perceived influence on child behaviors”; and (6) “Perceptions of the food manufacturers using of warning labels”. Participants used food labels to check nutrient content and ingredient information but the format of these labels and the technicality of the content displayed often made the information inaccessible, particularly for those with low socioeconomic status. Most participants were supportive of the display of front-of-package warning labels on products and considered them useful to inform purchases. Women believed that they and their children would reduce the consumption of foods with front-of-package warning labels, while men reported more polarity in their intentions. For men and their children, front-of-package warning labels would result in either stopping food intake entirely or continued consumption without changes to the amount. The study results highlight the potential of front-of-package warning labels to support healthier behaviors in both consumers and their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Agrobiodiversity is key for promoting healthy diets and moving towards more sustainable food systems. Conversely, monocultures and homogenous diets threaten the diversity of species available for human food. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the diversity of plant species mobilized by household food acquisitions in Brazil. Methods: Data from the 2017-18 National Household Budget Survey were used to quantify the total amount of foods (kilograms) and beverages (litres) purchased per person per year by household aggregates (n=575). Food items were classified according to the Nova classification system. Those items classified as Nova groups 1 and 2 were directly identified at the species level by using taxonomical classification from four data sources. Ingredient lists from the UNC/IDEC/NUPENS national food label database were used to determine the composition of processed and ultra-processed foods. The percent composition of the ingredients was estimated and classified at the species level. The total amount of animalsourced foods acquired by households were proportionally converted into the plant species utilized as feed inputs in their production. The Shannon index was used to assess the diversity of plant species. Linear regression models were used to test associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the Shannon index. Results: Six species accounted for more than 90% of the total amount of plant species mobilized by Brazilian households through their food purchases. This was reflected by a low average value of the Shannon index for the Brazilian population (H=0.87; 95%CI 0.85; 0.88), indicating low diversity. Mean values of this index tended to increase with income and were significantly lower in the North and Midwest regions and in urban areas. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a low diversity of plant species mobilized by Brazilian households through their food purchases in 2017-18. This is in line with previous studies demonstrating increasing homogeneity of global food supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brazil is currently debating the implementation of front-of-package labels. This study tested if Warning labels (WLs) improved consumer understanding, perceptions, and purchase intentions compared to Traffic-Light labels (TLLs) in 1607 Brazilian adults. Methods: In this online, randomized controlled experiment participants saw images of 10 products and answered questions twice—once in a no-label, control condition and then again in a randomly assigned label condition. The relative differences in responses between WLs and TLLs between control and label conditions were estimated using one-way ANOVAs or Chi-square tests. Results: Presenting WLs on products compared to TLLs helped participants: (i) improve their understanding of excess nutrient content (27.0% versus 8.2%, p < 0.001); (ii) improve their ability to identify the healthier product (24.6% versus 3.3%, p < 0.001); (iii) decrease perceptions of product healthfulness; and (iv) correctly identify healthier products (14.0% versus 6.9%, p < 0.001), relative to the control condition. With WLs, there was also an increase in the percentage of people: (v) expressing an intention to purchase the relatively healthier option (16.1% versus 9.8%, p < 0.001); and (vi) choosing not to buy either product (13.0% versus 2.9%, p < 0.001), relative to the control condition. The participants in the WL condition had significantly more favorable opinions of the labels compared to those in the TLL group. Conclusions: WLs would be more effective, compared to the TLL, at improving consumer food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]