Becoming Healthier Without Paying More? Experimental Evidence from the Impact of Multiple Traffic Lights on Chinese College Students

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2024 Jul 13

PMID 38999872

Authors

Jing Lin

Tingyu Wang

Wen Lin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese residents has become a pressing public health concern. The UK Multiple Traffic Light labeling system, known for its user-friendly design, has demonstrated success in promoting healthier food choices. This paper presents novel findings from a randomized controlled experiment assessing the impact of traffic light labeling on Chinese consumers' food choices. Results indicate that the label significantly reduces the intake of calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium without increasing the economic costs of food choices. This study contributes empirical evidence to the effectiveness of traffic light labeling in China, with implications for the country's approach to front-of-pack nutrition labeling.

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