Exploring the impact of Mexican front-of-package nutrition warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverage purchases and consumption among Mexican Americans in the USA, 2022–2023
Muskaan Kaur Makkar, Rachel E. Davis, Sultan Alsallum, Dai Fang, Alejandra Contreras-Manzano, Lana Vanderlee, Christine White, James W. Hardin, Alejandra Jáuregui, David Hammond, James F. ThrasherAbstract
Objective:
To examine awareness and self-reported influence of Mexican front-of-package warning labels (FoPWL) on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among Mexican American adults in the USA.
Design:
Data were analysed from Mexican Americans in the 2022 and 2023 annual cross-sectional International Food Policy Study surveys. FoPWL awareness (≥sometimes) and reported reductions in buying cola (2022–2023), soda (2022 only) and sweetened fruit drinks (2022 only) due to FoPWL were assessed. Weighted, adjusted negative binomial models tested associations between reported reductions in SSB purchases and past 7-d SSB consumption (2022 only).
Setting:
Online survey.
Subjects:
Mexican Americans in US aged 18–100 years (2022, n 3329; 2023, n 2972).
Results:
Overall, 43 % of participants reported being aware of FoPWL on beverages ≥ ‘sometimes,’ with higher awareness among participants with limited health literacy ( v . adequate) (AOR = 1·5, p < 0·001), high ( v . low) education (AOR = 1·50, p < 0·001) and more frequent Spanish language use (AOR = 1·59 p < 0·001). Self-reported purchasing less cola due to the FOPWL was also more likely among those with limited literacy (AOR = 1·28, p < 0·05) and high ( v . low) education (AOR = 1·21, p < 0·05), while more frequent Spanish use was associated with reported purchasing less of all three drink categories ( p < 0·001). In 2022, reported buying less of all three SSB due to the front-of-package nutrient warning labels was associated with lower SSB consumption (p < 0·001).
Conclusions:
Mexican American adults – particularly those with lower health literacy, higher education and more frequent Spanish use – reported greater awareness of Mexico’s FoPWL on beverages and purchasing less SSB due to the labels, suggesting FoPWL could be considered for the USA.