"The Cross-Category Effects of Food Labels : A Canteen Experiment"

Abstract :
"Dietary imbalances constitute a significant global health challenge, to which health authorities increasingly respond by adopting nutrition labels that encourage healthier food choices. Because these labels affect many food categories, cross-category synergies such as compensatory behaviors across foods may mitigate their efficacy. To evaluate the importance of this issue, we leverage a field experiment in which a nutritional food label (Nutri-Score) was introduced in 3 out of 6 canteens to assess its effect on diet quality. Using individual-level panel data on meal choices, we estimate a random coefficient logit model of demand for bundles and find evidence of cross-category synergies. Our counterfactual experiments show that these synergies altered the impact of Nutri-Score on calorie consumption."