The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College

Title

Promotion of Healthy Eating Through Public Policy: A Controlled Experiment

Authors

Brian Elbel
Gary B. Taksler
Tod Mijanovich
Courtney B. Abrams
Lori Beth Dixon, Gettysburg CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2013

Department 1

Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: To induce consumers to purchase healthier foods and beverages, some policymakers have suggested special taxes or labels on unhealthy products. The potential of such policies is unknown.

Purpose: In a controlled field experiment, researchers tested whether consumers were more likely to purchase healthy products under such policies.

Methods: From October to December 2011, researchers opened a store at a large hospital that sold a variety of healthier and less-healthy foods and beverages. Purchases (N=3680) were analyzed under five conditions: a baseline with no special labeling or taxation, a 30% tax, highlighting the phrase "less healthy" on the price tag, and combinations of taxation and labeling. Purchases were analyzed in January-July 2012, at the single-item and transaction levels.

Results: There was no significant difference between the various taxation conditions. Consumers were 11 percentage points more likely to purchase a healthier item under a 30% tax (95% CI=7%, 16%, p<0.001) and 6 percentage points more likely under labeling (95% CI=0%, 12%, p=0.04). By product type, consumers switched away from the purchase of less-healthy food under taxation (9 percentage point decrease, p<0.001) and into healthier beverages (6 percentage point increase, p=0.001); there were no effects for labeling. Conditions were associated with the purchase of 11-14 fewer calories (9%-11% in relative terms) and 2 fewer grams of sugar. Results remained significant controlling for all items purchased in a single transaction.

Conclusions: Taxation may induce consumers to purchase healthier foods and beverages. However, it is unclear whether the 15%-20% tax rates proposed in public policy discussions would be more effective than labeling products as less healthy.

Comments

Original version is available from the publisher at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379713002298

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2013.02.023

Recommended Citation

Elbel, Brian, PHD, Gary B. Taksler, PHD, Tod Mijanovich, PHD, Courtney B. Abrams, MA and Lori Beth Dixon, PHD, MPH. “Promotion of Healthy Eating Through Public Policy: A Controlled Experiment.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 45.1 (2013): 49-55.