Labeling

Labels can increase consumer awareness and understanding of nutritional content to inform purchases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is developing a mandatory front-of-pack labeling system. It is important to provide evidence on the effectiveness of alternative label designs and placement across multiple settings, to communicate product healthfulness and inform purchasing decisions, and ultimately assess their impact on diet.

Study Summaries


Compliance and Implementation Assessment Study of the New York City Added Sugars Warning Rule

Policy Effective Date: Oct 3, 2025
Purpose: To assess restaurant compliance and lessons learned from implementing the NYC added sugars warning rule that requires application of a warning icon for menu items with ≥50 g of added sugars and application of a warning statement near the menu item, as well as at point-of-purchase and any self-service stations with offerings containing ≥50 g of added sugars.
Methods: Researchers used audit tools to collect menu data from fast-food restaurants, including online ordering and third-party platforms, before and after policy implementation. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with implementation stakeholders, and archival documents were collected from the City Council’s website and Department of Mental Health & Hygiene.
Location: New York City, New York(intervention) and Chicago, Illinois (comparison for compliance study)
Research Leads: New York University and University of Illinois Chicago


Evaluation of Front-of-Pack Labeling

Policy Effective Date: Proposed Rule by the U.S. FDA January 16, 2025.
Purpose: Compare the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed nutrition label to three other designs and a no-label control to assess which type of label is most effective in helping consumers identify products with the “healthiest” and “least healthy” nutritional content.
Methods: An online national sample of approximately 13,000 U.S. adults were randomized to view products labeled according to five different label designs. Outcomes assessed included consumer understanding (i.e., correct identification of the healthiest and least healthy nutrient profiles from sets of three products); perceived healthfulness of unhealthy products (i.e., products high in one, but low in the other two nutrients of concern); and correct assessment of high nutrient content.
Location: United States
Research Leads: University of California, Davis