Center for Epidemiological Studies in Health and Nutrition (NUPENS), Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Brazilian Institute for Consumer's Defense (Idec), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
PLoS One. 2019 Jun 26;14(6):e0218813. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218813. eCollection 2019.
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.
本研究旨在评估消费者对当前巴西食品标签的使用情况和意见，以及他们对引入食品包装正面警示标签的反应。我们在一个多样化的成年消费者样本中进行了 12 个焦点小组，广泛评估了以下内容：（1）当前食品标签的使用情况和认知，以及（2）对实施食品包装正面警示标签以指导食品购买的意见。研究人员采用探索性内容分析方法对数据进行了三角分析，允许从数据中提取代码。通过比较不同性别和社会经济地位的焦点小组中代码的出现频率，探讨了这些社会人口因素的差异。代码分为六个主要主题：（1）“使用食品标签的原因”；（2）“使用食品标签的障碍”；（3）“新标签的要求”；（4）“对消费行为的感知影响”；（5）“对儿童行为的感知影响”；以及（6）“对食品制造商使用警示标签的看法”。参与者使用食品标签来检查营养成分和成分信息，但这些标签的格式和显示的技术内容往往使信息难以获取，尤其是对于社会经济地位较低的人。大多数参与者支持在产品上显示食品包装正面警示标签，并认为这些标签有助于告知购买。女性认为她们自己和孩子会减少食用有包装正面警示标签的食品，而男性则报告说他们的意图更具两极分化。对于男性及其子女来说，包装正面警示标签要么会完全停止食物摄入，要么会继续食用而不改变摄入量。研究结果强调了食品包装正面警示标签在支持消费者及其子女更健康行为方面的潜力。
