Building Capacity and Advancing Regulatory Measures to Improve Food Environments in the Region of the Americas.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the main cause of death globally (70%) and in the Region of the Americas (80%), and poor diets are a leading driver of NCDs. In response, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a set of evidence-based regulatory measures to help countries improve diets through the reduced consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods. This paper aims to describe the needs of and propose actions for key actors to advance these measures. A workshop was designed to assess member states' regulatory capacity. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze regional needs, successes and challenges. Thereafter, the Government Capacity-Building Framework for the prevention and control of NCDs was used to examine findings. The findings were organized in two sets: (i) PAHO/WHO actions to support member states and (ii) key actors' actions to advance regulatory policies. The results show notable regulatory progress across the Region of the Americas. However, progress differs between countries, with opportunities to strengthen measures in most countries, mainly in conflict of interest management. The results identified important actions to strengthen the regulatory capacity of PAHO/WHO member states. To maximize momentum for these actions, timelines must be identified, and political commitment can be boosted by applying human rights-based and food system-wide approaches.

Elaboração de uma cartilha informativa para familiares e cuidadores de crianças com autismo / Elaboración de un folleto informativo para familiares y cuidadores de niños con autismo / Development of an information booklet for family members and caregivers of children with autism

Objetivo: descrever a elaboração de uma cartilha informativa para familiares e cuidadores de crianças que vivem Transtorno do Espectro Autista. Método: pesquisa metodológica, realizada entre setembro de 2019 a julho de 2022 no sul do Brasil. Resultados: a elaboração envolveu a etapa teórica, validação de conteúdo e construção da cartilha denominada "Crianças autistas**: cartilha para familiares e cuidadores". Composta com seis capítulos: características do transtorno, comportamento da criança, direitos, futuro da criança com autismo e compartilhando experiências e visões. O conteúdo foi validado e para a construção da cartilha foram investigadas as preferências de dispositivos tecnológicos e layout de recursos informativos pelos familiares; após, o protótipo da cartilha passou por teste de usabilidade e navegação, hospedada no Articulate Storyline Software e está disponível para o público-alvo. Considerações finais: o processo de elaboração de recursos educativos para familiares pode auxiliar outros pesquisadores com interesse na área.

Objetivo: describir la elaboración de un folleto informativo para familiares y cuidadores de niños con Trastorno del Espectro Autista. Material y Método: investigación metodológica realizada entre septiembre de 2019 y julio de 2022 en el sur de Brasil. Resultados: la investigación incluyó una etapa teórica, la validación del contenido y la construcción de un folleto llamado "Niños autistas**: folleto para familiares y cuidadores". Consta de seis capítulos: características del trastorno, comportamiento del niño, derechos, futuro de los niños con autismo y compartir experiencias y visiones. Se validó el contenido y, para elaborar el folleto, se investigaron las preferencias de los familiares en cuanto a dispositivos tecnológicos y disposición de los recursos informativos; a continuación, el prototipo de folleto se sometió a pruebas de usabilidad y navegación, se alojó en Articulate Storyline Software y ya está a disposición del público destinatario. Consideraciones finales: el proceso de desarrollo de recursos educativos para familiares puede ayudar a otros investigadores interesados en el área.

Objective: to describe the development of an information booklet for family members and caregivers of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Method: methodological research carried out between September 2019 and July 2022 in southern Brazil. Results: the study involved a theoretical stage, content validation and the construction of a booklet called Autistic children**: a booklet for family members and caregivers". It consists of six chapters: characteristics of the disorder, the child's behavior, rights, the future of children with autism and sharing experiences and visions. The content was validated and to build the booklet, family members' preferences for technological devices and the layout of information resources were investigated; afterwards, the prototype of the booklet underwent usability and navigation tests, was hosted on Articulate Storyline Software and is available to the target audience. Final considerations: the process of developing educational resources for family members can help other researchers with an interest in the area.

Influence of nutrition claims on different models of front-of-package nutritional labeling in supposedly healthy foods: Impact on the understanding of nutritional information, healthfulness perception, and purchase intention of Brazilian consumers.

Nutrition claims are positive information about foods, which are widely used as a marketing strategy on labels. On the contrary, front-of-package nutritional labeling (FoPNL) aims to make it easier for consumers to understand the nutritional composition of foods and favor healthy food choices. However, the concomitant presence of nutrition claims and FoPNL may hinder the understanding, judgment, and choices of consumers at the moment of purchase. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of nutrition claims on the efficacy of FoPNL models in the understanding of nutritional information, healthfulness perception, and purchase intention of Brazilian consumers. It was an experimental cross-sectional study carried out using an online questionnaire, with a total of 720 participants randomly divided into four FoPNL conditions: control, octagon, triangle, and magnifying glass. Each participant looked at 12 food packages, which were produced following the factorial design: (i) food category (cereal bar, whole grain cookies, and snacks); (ii) product type (containing one critical nutrient × containing two critical nutrients); and (iii) nutrition claims (present × absent). The comprehension of nutritional information was evaluated through the identification of excessive nutrients, and the healthfulness perception and purchase intention were evaluated using a seven-point scale. The results indicated that the presence of FoPNL increased the understanding of the information and reduced healthfulness perception and purchase intention. The presence of nutrition claims influenced the three outcomes, decreasing the probability of understanding information about food composition by 32% (OR 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.78, p < 0.01) and significantly increasing (p < 0.05) average health scores (1.95-2.02) and purchase intention (2.00-2.05). Nonetheless, the interaction "FoPNL × claims" was not significant, which indicated that claims act independently. All FoPNL models were more effective than the control. For the least healthful type of product (two nutrients in excess), the octagon and triangle models were superior to the magnifying glass, regarding the outcome of healthfulness perception. The results prove the efficacy of FoPNL in consumer understanding and judgment. Despite the positive effects of FoPNL, it did not cancel the positivity bias generated by the claims.

Informação nutricional em restaurantes: um estudo de compreensão de pictogramas / Nutritional information in restaurants: a study of pictogram comprehension

A informação nutricional em serviços de alimentação se mostra relevante para as escolhas alimentares, além de ser uma forma de respeitar o direito a escolha do consumidor. Contudo, é necessário que essa seja facilmente compreendida pelos comensais. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é propor um modelo pictórico de informação nutricional, que alerte para presença de glúten, leite, ovo e carne em Restaurantes Universitários de uma instituição pública a partir da percepção dos consumidores e do conhecimento da nutrição e do design de informação. A pesquisa quali-quantitativa, com delineamento transversal e caráter exploratório, foi realizada em Curitiba, Paraná, com graduandos adultos de uma instituição pública. Por meio de um questionário autorrespondido, foram avaliadas a compreensão de pictogramas com e sem rótulo que representassem a presença de glúten, leite, carne e ovo, a relevância das informações apresentadas e a preferência do local da disponibilização da informação nutricional. Participaram 131 consumidores com idade média de 21,3 ± 2,6 anos, sendo 73,3% do sexo feminino. Observou-se boa percepção dos pictogramas propostos, sendo melhor compreendidos aqueles com rótulos, que representavam "contém ovo" e "contém carne". Em relação a presença de leite, o pictograma da garrafa foi o mais aceito. O local de preferência para a visualização da informação foi no buffet, havendo interesse, principalmente, no nome da preparação e na lista de ingredientes. Os modelos de pictogramas propostos se mostraram adequados conforme os consumidores, atingindo o objetivo do estudo, contribuindo para que as informações sejam facilmente compreendidas, e favorecendo o direito de escolha dos consumidores.

Nutritional information in food services is relevant to food choices, in addition to being a way of respecting the consumer's right to choose. However, it is necessary that this information to be easily understood by the diners. Thus, the aim of this study is to propose a pictorial model of nutritional information, which warns of the presence of gluten, milk, eggs, and meat in a public university restaurant based on the perception of consumers and the knowledge of nutrition and the information design. The quali-quantitative study, with a cross-sectional design and exploratory character, was carried out in Curitiba, Paraná, with adult students from a public institution. Through a self-answered questionnaire, the comprehension of pictograms with and without a label that represented the presence of gluten, milk, meat, and egg, the relevance of the information presented, and the preference of the place where the nutritional information was made available were evaluated. 131 consumers participated with an average age of 21.3 ± 2.6 years, 73.3% of whom were female. A good perception of the proposed pictograms was observed, and was better understood with labels, which represented "contains egg" and "contains meat". Regarding the presence of milk, the bottle pictogram was the most accepted. The preferred location for viewing the information was at the buffet, with interest mainly in the name of the meal and the list of ingredients. The proposed pictograms models were shown to be adequate according to consumers, reaching the objective of the study, making the information easily understood, and favoring the consumers' right to choose.

Consumers' opinions on warning labels on food packages: A qualitative study in Brazil.

This study aimed to assess consumers' uses of and opinions on the current Brazilian food label and their reaction to the introduction of a front-of-package warning label. We conducted 12 focus groups among a diverse sample of adult consumers, to broadly assess: (1) uses of and perceptions about the current food label, and (2) opinions about implementing a front-of-package warning label to guide food purchases. Data was analyzed with a triangulation of researchers using an exploratory content analysis, which allowed codes to emerge from the data. The frequency of codes across focus groups was compared by gender and socioeconomic status to explore differences by these sociodemographic factors. Codes were divided into six main themes: (1) "Reasons for using food labels"; (2) "Barriers to using food labels"; (3) "Requirements for a new label"; (4) "Perceived influence on consumption behaviors"; (5) "Perceived influence on child behaviors"; and (6) "Perceptions of the food manufacturers using of warning labels". Participants used food labels to check nutrient content and ingredient information but the format of these labels and the technicality of the content displayed often made the information inaccessible, particularly for those with low socioeconomic status. Most participants were supportive of the display of front-of-package warning labels on products and considered them useful to inform purchases. Women believed that they and their children would reduce the consumption of foods with front-of-package warning labels, while men reported more polarity in their intentions. For men and their children, front-of-package warning labels would result in either stopping food intake entirely or continued consumption without changes to the amount. The study results highlight the potential of front-of-package warning labels to support healthier behaviors in both consumers and their children.

Choosing a front-of-package warning label for Brazil: A randomized, controlled comparison of three different label designs.

INTRODUCTION: Warning labels (WLs) are the newest paradigm of nutrient-based, front-of-package labels (FOP) that have been consistently shown to be more effective at informing consumer purchases than other FOP labels. Their effectiveness may be attributed to their design and the consistency in the information they communicate. The present study assessed designs effects of WLs in improving understanding and perceptions among 2419 Brazilian adults. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to one of four study arms in an online, randomized, controlled experiment: (1) the Triangular WL 'A lot of /Muito' (Muito); (2) Triangular WL 'High in/Alto em' (Alto); (3) the Chilean WL 'High in/Alto em' (Chile); and (4) a control condition (no WL). Participants responded to a series of questions, while viewing images of 9 products, that assessed their understanding of the nutrient content of the product, its healthfulness, and their intentions to purchase. All aggregate differences in responses between study arms were estimated using oneway-ANOVAs. RESULTS: WLs were superior to the list of ingredients and the nutrition facts panel in improving participant understanding and perceptions of the nutrient profile of products, particularly in helping identify nutrients in excess. Alto was significantly better than the control at identifying which of the two products contained an excess of nutrients and at improving consumer understanding of nutrient content across different indicators. Alto, followed by Muito, was also better at communicating that fewer WLs signified a healthier product. The Muito WL was significantly more visible to participants than the Chile WL. There were no differences between study arms in shifting consumer purchase intentions. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, WLs were an important addition to the current nutrition label. The triangular symbol, the white background and the signal word, 'High in/ Alto em' showed consistently better results than the signal word 'A lot of/ Muito' and the octagonal symbol. These design elements serve to make WLs more visible to consumers, capturing their attention and informing their food evaluations, and may have greater potential to influence appropriate for a Brazilian audience.

Opinião dos consumidores sobre rótulos de advertência em embalagens de alimentos: um estudo qualitativo no Brasil / Consumers' opinions on warning labels on food packages: A qualitative study in Brazil

This study aimed to assess consumers' uses of and opinions on the current Brazilian food label and their reaction to the introduction of a front-of-package warning label. We conducted 12 focus groups among a diverse sample of adult consumers, to broadly assess: (1) uses of and perceptions about the current food label, and (2) opinions about implementing a front-of-package warning label to guide food purchases. Data was analyzed with a triangulation of researchers using an exploratory content analysis, which allowed codes to emerge from the data. The frequency of codes across focus groups was compared by gender and socioeconomic status to explore differences by these sociodemographic factors. Codes were divided into six main themes: (1) "Reasons for using food labels"; (2) "Barriers to using food labels"; (3) "Requirements for a new label"; (4) "Perceived influence on consumption behaviors"; (5) "Perceived influence on child behaviors"; and (6) "Perceptions of the food manufacturers using of warning labels". Participants used food labels to check nutrient content and ingredient information but the format of these labels and the technicality of the content displayed often made the information inaccessible, particularly for those with low socioeconomic status. Most participants were supportive of the display of front-of-package warning labels on products and considered them useful to inform purchases. Women believed that they and their children would reduce the consumption of foods with front-ofpackage warning labels, while men reported more polarity in their intentions. For men and their children, front-of-package warning labels would result in either stopping food intake entirely or continued consumption without changes to the amount. The study results highlight the potential of front-of-package warning labels to support healthier behaviors in both consumers and their children.

Are Front-of-Package Warning Labels More Effective at Communicating Nutrition Information than Traffic-Light Labels? A Randomized Controlled Experiment in a Brazilian Sample.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is currently debating the implementation of front-of-package labels. This study tested if Warning labels (WLs) improved consumer understanding, perceptions, and purchase intentions compared to Traffic-Light labels (TLLs) in 1607 Brazilian adults. METHODS: In this online, randomized controlled experiment participants saw images of 10 products and answered questions twice-once in a no-label, control condition and then again in a randomly assigned label condition. The relative differences in responses between WLs and TLLs between control and label conditions were estimated using one-way ANOVAs or Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Presenting WLs on products compared to TLLs helped participants: (i) improve their understanding of excess nutrient content (27.0% versus 8.2%, p < 0.001); (ii) improve their ability to identify the healthier product (24.6% versus 3.3%, p < 0.001); (iii) decrease perceptions of product healthfulness; and (iv) correctly identify healthier products (14.0% versus 6.9%, p < 0.001), relative to the control condition. With WLs, there was also an increase in the percentage of people: (v) expressing an intention to purchase the relatively healthier option (16.1% versus 9.8%, p < 0.001); and (vi) choosing not to buy either product (13.0% versus 2.9%, p < 0.001), relative to the control condition. The participants in the WL condition had significantly more favorable opinions of the labels compared to those in the TLL group. CONCLUSIONS: WLs would be more effective at improving consumer food choices.

Graphic and cultural aspects of pictograms: an information ergonomics viewpoint.

The use of pictograms is discussed considering their information content, graphic complexity and cultural dimension. The resemblance and the illusion theories are highlighted to define pictogram as a salience-based representation system, which communicational efficacy depends upon historical and cultural aspects in their interpretation. Thus, the competence in interpreting pictograms is considered relative to users' acquaintance with the pictorial system and with the referents. Pictogram as a general/neutral visual statement is questioned, pointing out the cultural and gender attributes added to pictures to represent people, professions and social events. As a result of this discussion, some critical points of the standardization of pictograms are presented.