Trial Outcomes & Findings for Are Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Information Labels Well-Targeted (NCT NCT05038163)

Last Updated: 2024-12-11

Results Overview

How much consumers like, or are willing to pay for, sugar-sweetened beverages when compared to a sugar-free alternative. The survey instrument uses a multiple price list (MPL) to elicit each respondent's relative willingness to pay (WTP) for the sugary drink vs. the non-sugary alternative, a standard methodology in the economics literature where consumers answer a series of questions about whether they would prefer to buy a sugar-sweetened beverage at price X or a sugar-free alternative at price Y. For example, a relative WTP of $1.60 indicates a respondent is willing to pay an additional $1.60 for the sugary drink compared to the non-sugary alternative.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

Target enrollment

5845 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

1 week after recruitment (during Part II of the experiment)

Results posted on

2024-12-11

Participant Flow

This was a two-stage study. In Stage 1, participants completed a baseline survey about their demographic characteristics, consumer bias, self control, and nutrition knowledge. Randomization occurred in Stage 2, in which participants' willingness to pay for sugary drink was measured.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	Stage 1 - All Enrolled Participants Baseline survey about demographic characteristics, consumer bias, self control, and nutrition knowledge	Control Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are not presented with nutrition or warning labels when choosing between beverages.	Graphic Warning Labels Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a graphic warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. The message, for example, could include photos of tooth decay and other negative health outcomes. Graphic Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using a combination of words/text and graphic images/photographs.	Nutrition Labels Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown enlarged nutrition labels when choosing between beverages. Nutrition Facts: The nutritional information label for each beverage is enlarged.	Text Warning Labels Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. Text Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using words/text and simple images.	Stage 2 - Not Randomized Subjects began Part II of the experiment, but did not reach the point of randomization.
Stage 1 STARTED	4033	0	0	0	0	0
Stage 1 COMPLETED	3659	0	0	0	0	0
Stage 1 NOT COMPLETED	374	0	0	0	0	0
Stage 2 STARTED	0	696	683	668	683	100
Stage 2 COMPLETED	0	667	653	644	662	0
Stage 2 NOT COMPLETED	0	29	30	24	21	100

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure	Stage 1 - All Enrolled Participants Baseline survey about demographic characteristics, consumer bias, self control, and nutrition knowledge	Control Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are not presented with nutrition or warning labels when choosing between beverages.	Graphic Warning Labels Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a graphic warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. The message, for example, could include photos of tooth decay and other negative health outcomes. Graphic Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using a combination of words/text and graphic images/photographs.	Nutrition Labels Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown enlarged nutrition labels when choosing between beverages. Nutrition Facts: The nutritional information label for each beverage is enlarged.	Text Warning Labels Arm In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. Text Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using words/text and simple images.	Stage 2 - Not Randomized Subjects began Part II of the experiment, but did not reach the point of randomization.
Stage 1 Did not complete survey	374	0	0	0	0	0
Stage 2 Did not complete Stage 2 survey	0	29	30	24	21	100

Baseline Characteristics

Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	Control Arm n=667 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are not presented with nutrition or warning labels when choosing between beverages.	Graphic Warning Labels Arm n=653 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a graphic warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. The message, for example, could include photos of tooth decay and other negative health outcomes. Graphic Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using a combination of words/text and graphic images/photographs.	Nutrition Labels Arm n=644 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown enlarged nutrition labels when choosing between beverages. Nutrition Facts: The nutritional information label for each beverage is enlarged.	Text Warning Labels Arm n=662 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. Text Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using words/text and simple images.	Non-Randomized n=1033 Participants Subjects did not reach Part II and were therefore not randomized.	Total n=3659 Participants Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical <=18 years	3 Participants n=667 Participants	6 Participants n=653 Participants	3 Participants n=644 Participants	4 Participants n=662 Participants	2 Participants n=1033 Participants	18 Participants n=3659 Participants
Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years	535 Participants n=667 Participants	527 Participants n=653 Participants	526 Participants n=644 Participants	551 Participants n=662 Participants	680 Participants n=1033 Participants	2819 Participants n=3659 Participants
Age, Categorical >=65 years	129 Participants n=667 Participants	120 Participants n=653 Participants	115 Participants n=644 Participants	107 Participants n=662 Participants	351 Participants n=1033 Participants	822 Participants n=3659 Participants
Age, Continuous	48.97 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.60 • n=667 Participants	48.39 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.71 • n=653 Participants	49.04 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.80 • n=644 Participants	47.48 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.52 • n=662 Participants	58.49 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.17 • n=1033 Participants	51.12 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.65 • n=3659 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	339 Participants n=655 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	323 Participants n=637 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	327 Participants n=631 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	354 Participants n=652 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	602 Participants n=1023 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	1945 Participants n=3598 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender
Sex: Female, Male Male	316 Participants n=655 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	314 Participants n=637 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	304 Participants n=631 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	298 Participants n=652 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	421 Participants n=1023 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender	1653 Participants n=3598 Participants • Includes respondents who answered Female or Male to question about gender
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino	28 Participants n=667 Participants	26 Participants n=653 Participants	27 Participants n=644 Participants	48 Participants n=662 Participants	37 Participants n=1033 Participants	166 Participants n=3659 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino	601 Participants n=667 Participants	592 Participants n=653 Participants	584 Participants n=644 Participants	595 Participants n=662 Participants	873 Participants n=1033 Participants	3245 Participants n=3659 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	38 Participants n=667 Participants	35 Participants n=653 Participants	33 Participants n=644 Participants	19 Participants n=662 Participants	123 Participants n=1033 Participants	248 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	9 Participants n=667 Participants	6 Participants n=653 Participants	5 Participants n=644 Participants	5 Participants n=662 Participants	15 Participants n=1033 Participants	40 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	34 Participants n=667 Participants	37 Participants n=653 Participants	37 Participants n=644 Participants	40 Participants n=662 Participants	24 Participants n=1033 Participants	172 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	1 Participants n=667 Participants	1 Participants n=653 Participants	2 Participants n=644 Participants	1 Participants n=662 Participants	3 Participants n=1033 Participants	8 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	17 Participants n=667 Participants	29 Participants n=653 Participants	24 Participants n=644 Participants	25 Participants n=662 Participants	32 Participants n=1033 Participants	127 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	563 Participants n=667 Participants	551 Participants n=653 Participants	548 Participants n=644 Participants	551 Participants n=662 Participants	899 Participants n=1033 Participants	3112 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	26 Participants n=667 Participants	18 Participants n=653 Participants	14 Participants n=644 Participants	19 Participants n=662 Participants	30 Participants n=1033 Participants	107 Participants n=3659 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	17 Participants n=667 Participants	11 Participants n=653 Participants	14 Participants n=644 Participants	21 Participants n=662 Participants	30 Participants n=1033 Participants	93 Participants n=3659 Participants
Bias	2.60 Dollars per 12-pack of soda STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.24 • n=667 Participants	2.52 Dollars per 12-pack of soda STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.22 • n=653 Participants	2.52 Dollars per 12-pack of soda STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.28 • n=644 Participants	2.58 Dollars per 12-pack of soda STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.22 • n=662 Participants	2.70 Dollars per 12-pack of soda STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.28 • n=1033 Participants	2.56 Dollars per 12-pack of soda STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.24 • n=3659 Participants
Self-Control	0.40 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.37 • n=667 Participants	0.41 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.37 • n=653 Participants	0.41 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.37 • n=644 Participants	0.40 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.36 • n=662 Participants	0.39 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.37 • n=1033 Participants	0.41 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.37 • n=3659 Participants
Nutrition Knowledge	0.69 Proportion of correct answers STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.12 • n=667 Participants	0.70 Proportion of correct answers STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.11 • n=653 Participants	0.70 Proportion of correct answers STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.12 • n=644 Participants	0.69 Proportion of correct answers STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.12 • n=662 Participants	0.67 Proportion of correct answers STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.12 • n=1033 Participants	0.68 Proportion of correct answers STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.14 • n=3659 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week after recruitment (during Part II of the experiment)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Control Arm n=667 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are not presented with nutrition or warning labels when choosing between beverages.	Graphic Warning Labels Arm n=653 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a graphic warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. The message, for example, could include photos of tooth decay and other negative health outcomes. Graphic Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using a combination of words/text and graphic images/photographs.	Nutrition Labels Arm n=644 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown enlarged nutrition labels when choosing between beverages. Nutrition Facts: The nutritional information label for each beverage is enlarged.	Text Warning Labels Arm n=662 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. Text Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using words/text and simple images.
Willingness to Purchase Sugar-sweetened Beverage vs. Sugar-free Alternative	0.06 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 0.84	-0.46 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 1.34	-0.39 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 1.23	-0.29 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 1.03

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week after recruitment (during Part II of the experiment)

How much older adult consumers like, or are willing to pay for, sugar-sweetened beverages when compared to a sugar-free alternative. The survey instrument uses a multiple price list (MPL) to elicit each respondent's relative willingness to pay (WTP) for the sugary drink vs. the non-sugary alternative, a standard methodology in the economics literature where consumers answer a series of questions about whether they would prefer to buy a sugar-sweetened beverage at price X or a sugar-free alternative at price Y. For example, a relative WTP of $1.60 indicates a respondent is willing to pay an additional $1.60 for the sugary drink compared to the non-sugary alternative.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Control Arm n=129 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are not presented with nutrition or warning labels when choosing between beverages.	Graphic Warning Labels Arm n=120 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a graphic warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. The message, for example, could include photos of tooth decay and other negative health outcomes. Graphic Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using a combination of words/text and graphic images/photographs.	Nutrition Labels Arm n=115 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown enlarged nutrition labels when choosing between beverages. Nutrition Facts: The nutritional information label for each beverage is enlarged.	Text Warning Labels Arm n=107 Participants In Part II of the experiment, subjects are shown a warning message about the health risks of sugary beverages when choosing between beverages. Text Warning: The health risks of sugary beverages are communicated to subjects using words/text and simple images.
Willingness to Purchase Sugar-sweetened Beverage vs. Sugar-free Alternative, Among Adults Aged 65+	0.02 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 0.69	-0.31 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 1.02	-0.58 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 1.22	-0.23 Dollars per 12-pack of soda Standard Deviation 1.02

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: 1 week after recruitment (during Part II of the experiment)

Population: We report on gender, race, and ethnicity subgroups. Because each row represents one such subgroup, the number analyzed is by definition smaller than the overall number analyzed. For example, there are 667 participants in the Control Arm, but only 316 of these identified as Male.

How much different groups of consumers like, or are willing to pay for, sugar-sweetened beverages when compared to a sugar-free alternative. The survey instrument uses a multiple price list (MPL) to elicit each respondent's relative willingness to pay (WTP) for the sugary drink vs. the non-sugary alternative, a standard methodology in the economics literature where consumers answer a series of questions about whether they would prefer to buy a sugar-sweetened beverage at price X or a sugar-free alternative at price Y. For example, a relative WTP of $1.60 indicates a respondent is willing to pay an additional $1.60 for the sugary drink compared to the non-sugary alternative.