Healthful items in seven food categories (cereal, bread, soup, cracker, canned vegetable, granola/energy bar, and salad dressing) were tagged throughout the market. There was no difference in price between the tagged and untagged items. While no significant difference in sales of any particular food item was observed between baseline and intervention, overall sales of tagged items, as a percentage of total sales in the cereal, soup, and cracker categories, increased as a result of the intervention, while sales of tagged bread items decreased. Though not statistically significant, the intervention resulted in a 3.6% increase in the percentage of sales from tagged items. 

Writing in the article, Freedman and Connor state, "This pilot project was the first to use computerized sales data to examine the effect of a POP nutrition information program on the food-buying habits of multi-ethnic college students. Promising (albeit, not statistically significant) results imply that students were influenced by "Fuel Your Life" shelf tags and related materials. Despite several study limitations, the program was successful in increasing the percentage of tagged food items sold relative to other non-tagged items in the same category. Keeping all items in the same category at the same price meant that consumer choice was based on perceived nutritional benefit, not economics." 

"This research indicates that a simple logo helped students identify healthful food choices, and positively influenced food choice," commented Professor Freedman. "It would be interesting to determine if a combination of point-of-purchase nutrition information, coupled with economic incentives (e.g. lower prices for healthier foods) would further drive consumers to choose these healthier food items. We must aggressively test such options in light of the increasing threat of obesity to the health of our society." 

SOURCE Journal of the American Dietetic Association