Banca de DEFESA: LAUDIANE JUSTO SANT'ANNA

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : LAUDIANE JUSTO SANT'ANNA
DATE: 25/08/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: online
TITLE:

Brazilian Consumers’ Understanding and Use of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling: Evidence Across the Implementation Period

KEY WORDS:

Noncommunicable diseases, Food labeling, Nutritional warning, Consumer

PAGES: 140
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos
SUBÁREA: Ciência de Alimentos
SPECIALTY: Avaliação e Controle de Qualidade de Alimentos
SUMMARY:

Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labeling is one of the regulatory strategies proposed to discourage unhealthy eating habits, the main behavioral determinant of noncommunicable diseases. In 2020, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) approved the adoption of a black magnifying–shaped nutritional warning label for packaged foods containing excessive amounts of added sugars, saturated fats, or sodium. The policy has been implemented gradually, starting in October 2022 for newly launched products, with extended deadlines until 2025 for different food categories. Although previous studies have demonstrated the potential of nutritional warnings to influence eating behavior, evidence regarding the effectiveness of the black magnifying label on Brazilian products remains scarce. Against this background, the present thesis aimed to explore the interpretation and use of the black magnifying FOP label following its implementation. Three studies were conducted. The first study investigated Brazilian consumers’ understanding and experiences with the black magnifying label at two time points during the early phase of the policy (Dec 2022–Jan 2023 and Dec 2023–Jan 2024) through online surveys with 1,762 participants. The second study, conducted between Feb–Mar 2024, examined label use in a real shopping environment in two Brazilian cities, employing mobile eye-tracking technology. Self-reported data on label use and understanding were also collected. The third study, carried out in Aug 2024—after the final implementation deadline for most products—assessed how different types of consumer information messages about the black magnifying label (gain-framed, loss-framed, and neutral) influenced the relative importance attributed to the label compared with other packaging elements. In the first study, participants correctly identified the healthiest product in 63.6% of the tasks and products high in critical nutrients in 44.8% of the tasks. Shortly after policy implementation, 36% of participants reported noticing the black magnifying label on a product they intended to purchase, and among them, 53% stated that it changed their purchase decision. One year later, these figures increased to 71% and 45%, respectively. Individual characteristics and data collection period had limited influence on participants’ ability to interpret the warnings. In the second study, while 60% of participants reported having previously seen the black magnifying on packages, active search and use at the point of purchase were limited: only 4% fixated their gaze on the label and 15% reported noticing it on products they intended to buy—most of whom still purchased the products. Nonetheless, 53% stated that they had changed their purchasing decisions after the black magnifying was implemented. The third study found that exposure to informational messages increased the relative importance of the black magnifying label—particularly in the gain-framed condition—while reducing the influence of brand and sensory claims. However, brand and sensory claims remained the most influential factors guiding participants’ choices across all experimental conditions. Overall, the findings suggest that while the black magnifying label has the potential to promote healthier food choices, complementary measures—such as targeted communication campaigns and additional marketing regulations—are necessary to enhance consumer awareness and encourage consideration of the label during purchasing decisions.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - ***.950.088-** - ROSIRES DELIZA - EMBRAPA
Externo à Instituição - LUCÍA ANTÚNEZ
Externo à Instituição - EDUARDO AUGUSTO FERNANDES NILSON - FIOCRUZ
Externa à Instituição - ELLEN MAYRA MENEZES AYRES - UNIRIO
Externa à Instituição - SUZANA DELLA LUCIA - UFES