Strengths and Limitations
This study had limitations. First, we measured hypothetical selections, although we incentivized realistic behavior. Second, participants had only brief exposure to labels in the context of an online vending machine experiment. Future research should explore the effects of repeated, in-person exposure to labels and examine effects in more contexts (eg, when selecting groceries). Third, we did not study some of the labeling systems in use internationally, such as the Nutri-Score, Heath Star Rating, or multiple traffic light labeling systems, and we did not examine other important aspects of label design, such as whether labels include government attritubtion.