Behavioral Economics to Implement a Traffic Light Nutrition Ranking System in a Network of Food Pantries
Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test whether using behavioral economic strategies to promote healthy food choices on a food bank's online ordering platform increases the use of the traffic light nutrition ranking system and increases healthier food selections by the food agencies (e.g., food pantries) who use the food bank.
Description
This study will use behavioral economic strategies to promote utilization of traffic-light nutrition ranking in the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) order system to improve the dietary quality of food ordered by GBFB agencies. Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) is a program to guide both traffic light labeling for use on ordering platforms and pantry shelves, as well as food pantry layout to inform clients and encourage healthy food choice.This study is a collaboration with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to test BE strategies (choice architecture, framing, social norms) for implementat…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Food agencies that order food from the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) online ordering platform. Exclusion Criteria: * Food agencies that do not order food from the GBFB online platform within 2 months of the start of the study.
Interventions
- BehavioralBehavioral economics-enhanced user interface
The intervention changes the ordering platform visible to food agencies using behavioral economics strategies to promote healthier food choices.
Location
- Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts