Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence that front-of-package (FOP) labeling on pre- packaged foods and sugar-sweetened beverages may be an effective method of helping consumers make healthier dietary choices. On the other hand, there is also growing evidence that the current industry standard Facts-Up-Front FOP label design by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is not effective. For my thesis, I wanted to address this disparity by creating a set of visual label guidelines to assist future policymakers in their efforts to stem the increasing tide of obesity. To accomplish this, I used a mixed methods approach. First, I completed a regression analysis using the California Health Interview Survey dataset to understand the relationship between an individual’s level of nutritional knowledge and his or her consumption of sugar- sweetened beverages. By using education level as a stand-in for nutritional knowledge, I find that the more nutritional knowledge an individual has, the fewer SSBs he or she will consume. Considering this relationship between knowledge, consumption, and the potential effectiveness of FOPs, I next develop a framework from which to analyze the current industry standard FOP label. From this framework, and an analysis of current literature, I find that the industry standard is not effective at influencing consumers’ consumption patterns of SSBs because it lacks four visual characteristics; clarity, color, context, and novelty. Finally, I will present a set of policy recommendations for both the Food and Drug Administration and the State of California.