Promotion of healthy eating through public policy: a controlled experiment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To induce consumers to purchase healthier foods and beverages, some policymakers have suggested special taxes or labels on unhealthy products. The potential of such policies is unknown.

Purpose

In a controlled field experiment, researchers tested whether consumers were more likely to purchase healthy products under such policies.

Methods

From October to December 2011, researchers opened a store at a large hospital that sold a variety of healthier and less-healthy foods and beverages. Purchases (N=3680) were analyzed under five conditions: a baseline with no special labeling or taxation, a 30% tax, highlighting the phrase "less healthy" on the price tag, and combinations of taxation and labeling. Purchases were analyzed in January-July 2012, at the single-it

SUBMITTER: Elbel B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3696184 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature