Study shows 'exercise labels' help lower consumption of unhealthy foods
Posted by John Kalkowski -- Packaging Digest, 12/18/2011 9:11:05 PM
Health experts are calling for junk food and fizzy drinks to have ‘exercise labels' on their packaging to inform people how much physical exercise would need to be taken to burn off the sky-high calorie and fat content.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University believe that printing a ‘physical activity equivalent' on unhealthy drinks and snacks will reduce their popularity if the evidence is staring them in the face. To prove this point, researchers posted three different signs outside corner shops to see which was best at deterring young people from drinking calorific fizzy drinks. One sign asked if the consumer knew that the average can of fizzy pop contains 250 calories. The other asked if they knew that the drink is 10 percent of their recommended daily intake. The third revealed that a fizzy drink would take 50 minutes of running to counteract the soaring sugar and calorie content.
Researchers discovered that although the calorie information was effective (sales dropped by 40 percent), the physical activity equivalent was the most shocking to teens, as the drink sales dropped by 50 percent.
"People generally underestimate the number of calories in the foods and beverages they consume," says Dr. Sara Bleich from the study. "Providing easily understandable caloric information-particularly in the form of a physical activity equivalent, such as running - may reduce calorie intake from sugar - sweetened beverages and increase water consumption among adolescents.
Because of the health problems associated with junk food, it is critical to explore the most effective strategies for presenting caloric information to consumers on fast food restaurant menu boards.
SATO is a pioneer and leading global provider of integrated Automatic Identification and Data Collection solutions that leverage barcode and RFID technologies. SATO manufactures innovative, reliable auto-identification systems and offers complete...
more
ECONOCORP, INC. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of ECONOSEAL cartoning, trayforming, and casepacking caters to moderate volume users and features simplicity in design, operation, and maintenance. ECONOSEALS handle paperboard and corrugated...
more
QuickLabel Systems makes and sells digital color label printers and barcode label printers for use by manufacturers of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and more...
more
Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading suppliers of packaging machinery. Our diverse portfolio of packaging machines, including the well known Doboy brand, includes robotic automation with pick & place robots (delta robots)...
more
Hitachi America Ltd., Industrial Components & Equipment Division, supplies a broad range of industrial products and services. The division supplies sophisticated industrial equipment, components and services for application in pharmaceutical...
more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje...
more
Fogg is a world leader in the design and manufacture of rotary filling, rinsing, capping and enclosure systems for free flowing and viscous liquids. Fogg serves a growing number of dairy, spirits, water, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and...
more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje...
more
Microscan develops barcode and machine vision products that help manufacturers reduce costs, increase yields, improve product quality, and comply with regulations. Designed for precision applications, Microscan's line of 1D and 2D barcode readers...
more
Thermo Scientific Product Inspection and Processing equipment protects your brands by ensuring the quality, accuracy, efficiency and safety of your products. With more than 50 years of making sure little things don't turn into big problems, we know...
more
DOMINO is one of the world's largest manufacturers of digital printing solutions and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Our products are used for date coding, product marking, serialization and variable printing. Among our customers...
more
Teledyne DALSA is a world leader in the design, manufacture and deployment of digital imaging components for the machine vision market. Teledyne DALSA image sensors, cameras, smart cameras, frame grabbers, software and vision solutions are used in...
more
Health experts are calling for junk food and fizzy drinks to have ‘exercise labels' on their packaging to inform people how much physical exercise would need to be taken to burn off the sky-high calorie and fat content.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
