What does this research mean for the field?

In low-literacy contexts like India, effective front-of-pack food labels must be mandatory, combine clear text in local languages with colors and symbols, and be supported by robust nutrition literacy campaigns to overcome low baseline understanding. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess food purchasing patterns and determine the essential design and content features of effective front-of-pack nutrition labels among consumers in diverse, low-literacy settings.

August 27, 2026PLOS Global Public HealthOpen Access

Designing front-of-pack labels for packaged food in low-literacy contexts: Consumer perspectives from India

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Authors

JLJosyula K. LakshmiPublic Health Foundation of India SPSimone PettigrewPetra Christian University PMP B MahajanGeorge Institute for Global Health

Discussion

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals consumer demand for mandatory, interpretive front-of-pack food labels with text and color in diverse communities, highlighting the need for parallel nutrition campaigns.

Key Points

To assess food purchasing patterns and determine the essential design and content features of effective front-of-pack nutrition labels among consumers in diverse, low-literacy settings.
Conducted 16 community-based focus group discussions with 112 adult primary grocery shoppers across two regions in India.
Purposively sampled participants across diverse levels of educational attainment, socioeconomic status, gender, and residential location.
Analyzed qualitative consumer responses thematically to evaluate comprehension of draft regulatory front-of-pack label designs.
Nutrition literacy was markedly low among participants with lower socioeconomic status and education, with purchases primarily driven by habit, taste, cost, and trust rather than nutritional content.
Stand-alone graphic symbols caused frequent misinterpretation, whereas participants strongly preferred mandatory, color-coded, interpretive labels featuring concise text in local languages.

Cite This Study

Lakshmi et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fea3310c91c1e92622589 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0007118

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals consumer demand for mandatory, interpretive front-of-pack food labels with text and color in diverse communities, highlighting the need for parallel nutrition campaigns.

Designing front-of-pack labels for packaged food in low-literacy contexts: Consumer perspectives from India

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Designing front-of-pack labels for packaged food in low-literacy contexts: Consumer perspectives from India

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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