Do consumers value nutritional labels?

Authors: Loureiro, Maria L.; Gracia, Azucena; Nayga, Rodolfo M.

Source: European Review of Agricultural Economics, Volume 33, Number 2, June 2006 , pp. 249-268(20)

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Abstract:

The European Union is contemplating making the provision of nutritional labels in food products mandatory. Using data collected from food shoppers, we assessed consumers' valuation of nutritional labels by analysing their willingness to pay a premium for a box of cookies with a nutritional label. On average, the mean willingness to pay (WTP) for a box of cookies with a nutritional label is estimated to be about 11 per cent above the price of the box of cookies without a nutritional label. Consistent with prior expectations, our results also indicate a difference between the WTP of individuals suffering from diet-related health problems (estimated mean 13 per cent) and those who do not suffer any diet-related health problems (estimated mean 9 per cent).

Keywords: Europe; nutritional label; mandatory; consumers; WTP; processed food

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbl005

Publication date: 2006-06-01

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The European Review of Agricultural Economics is now firmly established as the pre-eminent forum for the discussion and dissemination of theoretical and applied agricultural economics research in Europe, with a readership that extends worldwide.