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PORTLAND, Maine — Guiding Stars®, North America's leading nutrition guidance program, today announced that a recently published study found that the introduction of the Guiding Stars system in supermarkets "translated into measurable nutritional benefits" by prompting customers to make healthier food choices. Researchers also noted an increase in sales and revenue at supermarkets that implemented the Guiding Stars food rating system.
The article, "Consumers' Response to an On-Shelf Nutrition Labelling System in Supermarkets: Evidence to Inform Policy and Practice," was published in The Milbank Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal specializing in original research, policy review and analysis. The investigation, led by Erin Hobinof Public Health Ontario and colleagues from Duke University, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, was designed to reveal whether simple nutrition labels on grocery store shelves help consumers make healthier food choices. According to data from three supermarket chains and interviews with nearly 800 shoppers, the Guiding Stars system helped shoppers choose items with less trans fat and sugar and more fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
The study also found that stores that implemented Guiding Stars generated higher sales and revenue: The report discovered increases in the number of products per transaction, price per product purchased and total revenues. This was the first investigation of its kind to note a positive effect on store sales and revenue from an on-shelf nutrition labelling system. The U.S. National Academies specifically requested that information from the study, noting that higher sales may motivate food purveyors to engage in efforts to encourage healthier consumer choices.
"Unhealthy diets are a top risk factor for chronic disease worldwide, so it makes sense for public policymakers to explore interventions that inspire consumers to make better choices," said Jim McBride, Director, Guiding Stars Licensing Company. "As this groundbreaking investigation shows, not only does the Guiding Stars system help consumers make small but significant positive changes in their nutritional choices, supermarkets also benefit through higher revenue."
Researchers found that the effect of Guiding Stars varied according to food product categories. The greatest positive shifts were seen in categories consumers perceive as healthier, such as fruit and vegetables, grains and cereals, dairy products, eggs, meats and fish. Exit surveys also suggest that building shopper awareness about how the system works could provide additional benefits for consumers.
"The Guiding Stars program is based on scientific consensus around the nutritional quality of foods, so it is encouraging to see a study that demonstrates its use to consumers," said Alison M. Duncan, Ph.D., R.D., a professor at the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph and a Guiding Stars advisor. "The study adds to the evidence that the simple and clear Guiding Stars program can help shoppers make healthy choices when purchasing groceries. Although the shopper shifts toward purchasing foods with higher nutritional quality were small in this study, small changes in behavior over time are realistic and contribute to a healthy lifestyle."
For more than a decade, Guiding Stars has provided a science-based food rating system centered on a patented and transparent algorithm that objectively assesses nutritional value. Easy-to-understand Guiding Stars ratings are in use at grocery chains and food service facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada and are also available online. To learn more, please about Guiding Stars, please visit www.guidingstars.com.
About Guiding Stars
Since 2006, the Guiding Stars nutrition guidance program has helped millions of consumers make more nutritious food choices. Based on its U.S. and Canadian patented nutrition rating algorithm, the program provides a simple, easy-to-understand tool for making good nutrition choices and is designed to make a positive and lasting impact on public health. Guiding Stars is currently in more than 1,200 supermarkets in the U.S., including all Hannaford and Food Lion stores. In Canada, Guiding Stars is offered exclusively through Loblaw Companies Limited, and is currently in more than 900 stores from British Columbia to Newfoundland through Loblaws and its affiliated banner stores Atlantic Superstore®, Dominion®, Fortinos®, ProvigoMC, ProvigoMC Le Marche, Real Canadian Superstore®, Save Easy®, Valu-mart®, Your Independent Grocer® and Zehrs®. Guiding Stars can also be found in public school, college, corporate and hospital dining facilities and is accessible through the Shopper mobile app for iOS devices. For more information, visit www.guidingstars.com.
Source: Guiding Stars
