Consumers’ Implicit and Explicit Recall, Understanding and Perceptions of Products with Nutrition-Related Messages: An Online Survey

• Main Authors: Beatriz Franco-Arellano, Lana Vanderlee, Mavra Ahmed, Angela Oh, Mary R. L’Abbé
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: nutrition labelling; nutrition claims; symbols; consumer perceptions; nutrient declarations; Canada
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8213
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

This study aimed to assess consumers’ implicit and explicit recall, understanding and perceptions of products with a nutrition claim and a symbol depicting ‘health,’ and to determine whether these perceptions differed among Nutrition Facts table (NFt) users vs. nonusers. In an online survey, participants (n = 1997) were randomized to one of eight conditions in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design, consisting of a label with a claim (present/absent) a heart-shaped symbol depicting ‘health’ (present/absent) for a healthier or less healthy soup. Participants were shown a label for 10 s and asked whether they recalled seeing a claim. If participants answered yes, they were then asked to describe their response using open-ended questions. Participants also rated the product’s perceived nutritional quality and purchase intentions using seven-point Likert scales. In the claim condition, most participants (75%) were able to recall the presence of a claim, while 12% incorrectly mentioned the presence of a claim when there was none. Claims likely attracted consumers’ attention and increased perceived nutritional quality, although with limited influence among NFt users (23%). The symbol depicting ‘health’ did not enhance perceived nutritional quality or purchase intentions. Although most participants (77%) made their decisions implicitly using the front of labels, those who used the NFt had a better understanding of the nutritional quality of products.