New Insights into How Food Labels Help People Choose Healthier Foods
Official title: Label to Table: New Insights into Supermarket Food Labeling
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-11292856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A real-world study looks at how updated Nutrition Facts Labels and Guiding Stars labeling affect what people buy in supermarkets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 20, 2018 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $671,754 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK115492-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults who shop for groceries and are exposed to labeled foods in participating supermarkets.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not purchasing packaged foods or those not in regions with participating retailers may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project analyzes real purchase data, an online simulated shopping environment, and shopper surveys to see whether clearer nutrition labeling nudges people toward healthier choices. It examines two label systems—the updated Nutrition Facts Label and the Guiding Stars rating—to understand their impact on the nutritional quality of purchases. By linking transaction data with product nutrition information from a major supermarket chain in several Northeastern states, the study aims to reveal if labeling changes lead to healthier buying patterns. The research will also explore how shoppers experience these labeling programs in everyday shopping.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, labels could more effectively guide Americans toward healthier food purchases.
How similar studies have gone: Prior labeling efforts have shown mixed impact; this study builds on a real-world data approach to clarify effectiveness.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
Canton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Block, Jason Perry — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Block, Jason Perry
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.