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Policies and Regulations (Poster Session)

(P28-012-25) Effects of Front-of-Package Labels for Added Sugars and Non-sugar Sweeteners on U.S. Parents’ Purchase Intentions and Perceptions of Foods and Beverages for Their Children

Monday, June 2, 2025
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board D-2

    Presenting Author(s)

  • AS

    Allison C. Sylvetsky, PhD

    Associate Professor
    The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MG

    Mariana F. Grilo, MPH

    Doctoral Candidate
    The George Washington University
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

  • JK

    James W. Krieger

    University of Washington, School of Public Health, United States

  • SP

    Sydney Pryor

    The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, United States

  • LT

    Lindsey Smith Taillie, MPH, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Disclosure(s):
Allison C. Sylvetsky, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Mariana F. Grilo, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Investigate the impact of front-of-package labels (FOPLs) for added sugar and non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) on U.S. parents’ purchase intentions and product perceptions for their children.

Methods: Parents (n=2,896) viewed 6 NSS-containing products; 3 were sweetened with only NSS and 3 had NSS and added sugars. Parents were randomized to view products with no labels (n=990, control), a FOPL "High in added sugars" (n=949) or a FOPL for added sugars and for NSS "Contains non-sugar sweeteners: not recommended for children” (n=957). Participants reported their purchase intentions and perceptions of products’ healthfulness and sweetness for their children on a Likert scale.

Results: Parents who viewed products with NSS FOPLs had lower purchase intentions, lower perceptions of product healthfulness, and higher perceptions of product sweetness compared to those randomized to the added sugar FOPL or control. When shown yogurt sweetened with only NSS, 16% (95% CI 15–18) who saw the NSS FOPL reported intending to purchase it, compared with 26% (24–27) in the added sugar FOPL group (did not see a FOPL since it did not have added sugar) and 25% (24–27) in the control. Similarly, 15% (13–16) who saw the NSS FOPL perceived it as healthy, compared with 26% (25–28) in the added sugar FOPL group and 25% (24–28) in control. Further, 15% (13–16) in the NSS FOPL group perceived it as too sweet for their children, compared with 8% (7–9) in the added sugar FOPL group and 10% (9–11) in control. For products with NSS and added sugars, those who saw added sugar FOPLs or both FOPLs reported lower purchase intentions, lower perceptions of healthfulness and higher perceptions of sweetness compared to control. For a sweetened milk that had NSS and added sugar, 9% (8–10) of those who saw the NSS FOPL (and added sugar FOPL) and 12% (10–13) in the added sugar FOPL group intended to purchase it compared with 18% (16–19) in control; 8% (7–9) in the NSS FOPL group and 10% (9–11) in the added sugars FOPL group rated it as healthy, compared with 16% (15–17) in the control; and 21% (19–22) in the NSS FOPL group and 19% (18–20) in the added sugars FOPL group perceived it as too sweet compared with 14% (13–16) in control.

Conclusions: FOPLs for added sugars and NSS lower purchase intentions and perceptions of product healthfulness and may support parents in making healthier choices for their children.

Funding Sources: Healthy Eating Research