Sugar warning labels on beverages and how they change what people buy
Evaluating the impact of sugar warnings on beverage purchases
This project looks at whether sugar warning labels on sugary drinks help adults buy fewer sugary beverages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290429 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, I'll shop at a small research convenience store in North Carolina and buy beverages for my household four times over four weeks, using my own money. Participants are randomly assigned to see either sugar warning labels on sugary drinks or neutral labels. The study measures total sugar purchased from drinks and other choices like juice or diet beverages. A subset of participants will do interviews and surveys to help researchers understand why labels might change shopping decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who buy beverages for their household, live near Chapel Hill/North Carolina, and are willing to visit the research store four times are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not drink or buy sugar-sweetened beverages, cannot attend in-person visits, or are underage would likely not benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could support warning labels that help people reduce how much sugar they buy and consume from drinks.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and online studies have shown promising effects of sugar warnings, but results from realistic in-person shopping trials in the U.S. are limited.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hall, Marissa — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hall, Marissa
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 below.