Testing Non-nutritive Sweetener Labels in Chile

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Diet, Healthy

Treatments

Behavioral: Control

Behavioral: Colombian non-nutritive sweetener label

Behavioral: Chilean non-nutritive sweetener label

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT06842693

24-2205 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

24-2896a

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this experiment is to examine the effects of 2 types of non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) warning labels among a sample of Chilean parents. The main questions this experiment aims to answer are:

Do non-nutritive sweetener warning labels improve consumers' ability to identify when a product contains non-nutritive sweeteners?

Do non-nutritive sweetener warning labels impact on consumers' selection of non-nutritive sweetener-sweetened, unsweetened, and/or sugar-sweetened products for their children?

Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 types of labels and view their assigned label on 3 sets of products. Each set will display 4 similar products: one unsweetened, one sweetened with sugar, one sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners, and one sweetened with both sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners. For each set, participants will identify which product(s) contain NNS and select the product that they would purchase for their child. Researchers will compare results across label types.

Full description

Participants will complete an online randomized experiment programmed in Qualtrics. After providing informed consent, participants will be randomly assigned to view 1 of 3 types of labels: a neutral control label, a rectangular label stating "contains non-nutritive sweeteners, not recommended for children" (i.e., Chilean NNS label), or an octagonal label stating "contains non-nutritive sweeteners" (i.e., Colombian NNS label).

Participants will view their assigned label on 4 similar products (one unsweetened, one sweetened with sugar, one sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners, and one sweetened with both sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners) displayed in random order and complete a task where they identify which product(s) contain non-nutritive sweeteners and select one of the products to purchase for their child. During this task, in all arms, products will also display Chile's current nutrient warning labels when applicable. This task will be repeated 3 times, each time with a different product category (i.e., fruit drinks, yogurts, breakfast cereals), with categories displayed in random order.

After the selection/identification tasks, participants will view their assigned labels on 2 products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (i.e., flavored milk and cereal bar). For each product, participants will rate the perceived message effectiveness of the label and perceived product healthfulness. Lastly, after all product exposures, participants will rate their intentions to limit their child's non-nutritive sweetener consumption.

Enrollment

3,916 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

18 years or older
Parent or guardian of child between 2-14 years old who has never been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood sugar, pre-diabetes or insulin resistance
Residing in Chile

Exclusion criteria

Less than 18 years old
Not parent or guardian of child between 2-14 years old who has never been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood sugar, pre-diabetes or insulin resistance
Not residing in Chile