Behavioral change by customizing consumer communication about the impact of ultra-processed food on planetary and human health

AI Quick Summary

The project aims to evoke a shift towards less ultra-processed foods (UPFs) by analyzing the impact of communicating their effects on planetary health and sustainability metrics, including the true cost of food. UPFs require extensive resources for production, leading to high water usage, energy consumption, and significant greenhouse gas emissions. They are linked to various health issues like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes due to their unhealthy nutritional content. The project will provide comprehensive information to food producers, NGOs, and farmers, promoting healthier and more sustainable food products. By identifying compelling communication strategies, it aims to raise consumer awareness and shift market demand towards better options. This approach uniquely links planetary health diets with UPFs, integrating sustainability and health. Success hinges on engaging stakeholders and empowering food producers to adopt communication strategies that support planetary health goals. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) generally require extensive resources, from agricultural inputs to processing, packaging and transportation. The production of these foods often involves high water usage, significant energy consumption, and reliance on non-renewable resources, leading to substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Diets high in UPFs have a larger carbon footprint due to these factors. The packaging of ultra-processed foods is another significant environmental concern. The majority of UPFs are packaged in single-use plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, contributing to plastic pollution. Additionally, UPFs often have a long shelf-life, are typically high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt while being low in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This imbalance is linked to various health issues such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Epidemiological studies have shown that high consumption of UPFs correlates with poorer health outcomes. These foods often promote overeating due to their low satiety factor and the addictive nature of their ingredients (such as added flavours). With this project, we will analyze the impact of UPFs on the planetary health diet and further measures of sustainability (such as true cost of food products). Expecting large heterogeneity in how consumers perceive such information, this project will analyse the effect of different information contents related to impacts of UFPs on health and planetary sustainability on consumer perception belonging to different segments, to identify communication pathways. Food product databases, food producers, NGOs and farmers associations will be provided with comprehensive information customized to different consumer segments to promote healthier and more sustainable food products. This will benefit food producers directly as they will be empowered to communicate the true value of their products.

Project Idea Metadata

Project Idea Name: Behavioral change by customizing consumer communication about the impact of ultra-processed food on planetary and human health
Date: 4/14/2025 2:30:59 PM
Administrators:
- Mirjam Hauser

Project Idea Description

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) generally require extensive resources, from agricultural inputs to processing, packaging and transportation. The production of these foods often involves high water usage, significant energy consumption, and reliance on non-renewable resources, leading to substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Diets high in UPFs have a larger carbon footprint due to these factors. The packaging of ultra-processed foods is another significant environmental concern. The majority of UPFs are packaged in single-use plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, contributing to plastic pollution. Additionally, UPFs often have a long shelf-life, are typically high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt while being low in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This imbalance is linked to various health issues such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Epidemiological studies have shown that high consumption of UPFs correlates with poorer health outcomes. These foods often promote overeating due to their low satiety factor and the addictive nature of their ingredients (such as added flavours).

With this project, we will analyze the impact of UPFs on the planetary health diet and further measures of sustainability (such as true cost of food products). Expecting large heterogeneity in how consumers perceive such information, this project will analyse the effect of different information contents related to impacts of UFPs on health and planetary sustainability on consumer perception belonging to different segments, to identify communication pathways. Food product databases, food producers, NGOs and farmers associations will be provided with comprehensive information customized to different consumer segments to promote healthier and more sustainable food products. This will benefit food producers directly as they will be empowered to communicate the true value of their products.