TY - JOUR
T1 - Conveying information through food packaging
T2 - A literature review comparing legislation with consumer perception
AU - Schifferstein, Hendrik N.J.
AU - de Boer, Alie
AU - Lemke, Mailin
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Although governments have implemented regulations to inform consumers on important product properties and protect consumers from deceptive information, empirical research on how consumers perceive, interpret and experience food packages have shown frequently that consumers may be misled by how information is presented and packages are designed. While communication in some domains is strictly regulated (health), claims in other domains are largely free (nature) and do not require substantiation. Subtleties in wording, image use and image style may affect the impressions consumers form. To support consumer decision making, legislators should not only provide rules and regulations that are formally correct, but also consider the effects a message and the way it is communicated (e.g., content, typeface, size, use of images, stylistic features) may have on buyers. While it may be unclear how best to support desirable behaviours, companies that take social responsibility can build on our work to develop their strategy.
AB - Although governments have implemented regulations to inform consumers on important product properties and protect consumers from deceptive information, empirical research on how consumers perceive, interpret and experience food packages have shown frequently that consumers may be misled by how information is presented and packages are designed. While communication in some domains is strictly regulated (health), claims in other domains are largely free (nature) and do not require substantiation. Subtleties in wording, image use and image style may affect the impressions consumers form. To support consumer decision making, legislators should not only provide rules and regulations that are formally correct, but also consider the effects a message and the way it is communicated (e.g., content, typeface, size, use of images, stylistic features) may have on buyers. While it may be unclear how best to support desirable behaviours, companies that take social responsibility can build on our work to develop their strategy.
KW - Claims
KW - Design
KW - Health
KW - Packaging
KW - Sustainability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114478382&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104734
DO - 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104734
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85114478382
SN - 1756-4646
VL - 86
JO - Journal of Functional Foods
JF - Journal of Functional Foods
M1 - 104734
ER -