Relationship between voluntary nutrition labeling, food composition and prices: the example of biscuits and pastries

Abstract

International audience ; To prevent some food related illnesses, health policies may influence consumers' behaviors through appropriate food labeling. In some countries, like the US, nutrition labeling is mandatory, whereas it is still optional in the EU, except when a nutrition claim is made in the labeling or the advertising of a foodstuff. In fact, the choice between voluntary versus mandatory labeling depends on several factors related, on the demand side, to the potential impacts of nutrition labeling on consumers' health, and on the supply side, to the possible extension of labeling if it only relies on firms' initiatives. Focusing on the supply side, the purpose of this study is to assess the development of voluntary nutrition labeling in France, and to determine the relationship between the presence of nutritional label, the food composition and prices. Analyses are performed on biscuits/pastries data, using detailed data on nutritional characteristics and prices of food items.