Effects of health-related packaging cues and individual factors on attention to front-of-pack warning labels: An eye-tracking study among young Colombian consumers

IF 5.9 1区农林科学 Q1 FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Food Quality and Preference Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-21 DOI:10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105760

Elisa Cadena , Gastón Ares , Carlos Gantiva

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Warning labels (WLs) are increasingly implemented as front-of-package nutrition labeling tools designed to help consumers make more informed food choices. While a growing body of evidence supports their effectiveness, there remains limited research on how other competing elements on food packaging may influence or undermine their impact. This study examined how health-related packing cues and individual-level characteristics influence attention to front-of-pack WLs, as well as perceived healthfulness and purchase intention among young Colombian consumers after policy implementation. Using an experimental within-subjects design, 102 participants (aged 18–27) viewed food packages containing WLs with and without health-related cues (HC). Eye-tracking technology was used to measure visual attention to WLs, followed by a rating task assessing perceived healthfulness and purchase intention. Individual characteristics, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were also collected. Results showed that participants fixated on WLs significantly fewer times when HC were present. Women, individuals with higher education, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds showed greater attention to WLs. Perceived social norms and behavioral control were also positively associated with attention. Interestingly, those who rated WLs as easy to understand fixated on them more quickly and briefly, suggesting more efficient cognitive processing. Packages with HC were rated as healthier and more desirable to purchase, even when WLs were present. WLs can attract attention, but their impact may be diluted by underregulated health-related packaging cues and shaped by individual differences. Policy efforts should consider limiting misleading design elements that compete with WLs. Results also suggest that communication strategies could leverage social norms and perceived label clarity to enhance WLs use, especially among less engaged populations.

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与健康有关的包装提示和个人因素对注意包装正面警告标签的影响：哥伦比亚年轻消费者的眼动追踪研究

警告标签（WLs）越来越多地作为包装前营养标签工具实施，旨在帮助消费者做出更明智的食品选择。虽然越来越多的证据支持其有效性，但关于食品包装上的其他竞争因素如何影响或破坏其效果的研究仍然有限。本研究考察了与健康相关的包装线索和个人层面的特征如何影响政策实施后哥伦比亚年轻消费者对包装正面wl的关注，以及感知健康和购买意愿。采用受试者内实验设计，102名参与者（18-27岁）观看了含有和不含健康相关提示（HC）的wl的食品包装。采用眼动追踪技术测量受试者对物品的视觉注意，然后进行健康感知和购买意愿的评分任务。收集个体特征、主观规范和感知行为控制。结果表明，当HC存在时，参与者对wl的注视次数明显减少。女性、受过高等教育的人以及社会经济背景较低的人对职业表现出更大的关注。感知到的社会规范和行为控制也与注意力呈正相关。有趣的是，那些认为wl容易理解的人更快速、更简短地关注它们，这表明他们的认知处理更有效。含有HC的包装被认为更健康，更值得购买，即使有wl存在。wl可以吸引人们的注意，但它们的影响可能会被监管不足的与健康有关的包装线索所稀释，并受到个体差异的影响。政策努力应考虑限制与wl竞争的误导性设计元素。研究结果还表明，沟通策略可以利用社会规范和感知标签清晰度来提高WLs的使用，特别是在参与度较低的人群中。

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来源期刊

Food Quality and Preference 工程技术-食品科技

CiteScore

10.40

自引率

15.10%

发文量

263

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Food Quality and Preference is a journal devoted to sensory, consumer and behavioural research in food and non-food products. It publishes original research, critical reviews, and short communications in sensory and consumer science, and sensometrics. In addition, the journal publishes special invited issues on important timely topics and from relevant conferences. These are aimed at bridging the gap between research and application, bringing together authors and readers in consumer and market research, sensory science, sensometrics and sensory evaluation, nutrition and food choice, as well as food research, product development and sensory quality assurance. Submissions to Food Quality and Preference are limited to papers that include some form of human measurement; papers that are limited to physical/chemical measures or the routine application of sensory, consumer or econometric analysis will not be considered unless they specifically make a novel scientific contribution in line with the journal''s coverage as outlined below.