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LD Dissertation ETD 4.8.21.pdf (2.39 MB)

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Are Fruit Snacks Like Fruit? Children's and Parents' Evaluations of Deceptive Packaged Foods

Dial, Lauren Ann
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1617378849140852

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Developmental.
Maintaining a healthy diet in the United States (US) poses unique challenges. The US food environment is laden with “ultra-processed” packaged foods – calorie dense, nutrient poor, and highly palatable foods – which are marketed in ways to make them seem healthier than they actually are. These deceptive packaged foods are deceptive for two major reasons: (1) deceptive features of the foods themselves (e.g., actual nutritional content), and (2) deceptive packaging (e.g., package design featuring fruits and vegetables, highlighting nutrition information). This study explored how types of deceptive foods (e.g., fruit/vegetable in the name, specific fruit/vegetable in the name, healthy reputation) and deceptive packaging (e.g., colorful, fruit/vegetable on package, farm scene) influence children’s and parents’ health and taste perceptions. Children (aged 6-8; N = 31) and parents (N = 29) participated in a food matching task. Target foods (deceptive foods) were presented alongside a healthy food and an unhealthy food. Children and parents indicated which food the target food was most similar to in terms of health and taste and indicated how much they would like to try target foods. Both parents and children were deceived by the health of deceptive foods. In terms of health and taste, children were deceived by most deceptive foods compared to non-deceptive foods whereas parents were generally influenced by foods with a healthy reputation in terms of health, taste, and willingness to try. Regarding packaging, children were more influenced by deceptive packaging than parents overall. Surprisingly, children indicated that they were most willing to try unpackaged foods and foods in fruit/vegetable packaging compared to other deceptive packaging strategies. Overall, this study supports previous findings around deceptive food strategies but also is an important addition to the current literature. Future studies might consider including information around deceptive foods and deceptive packaging strategies into interventions aimed at healthy eating.
Dara Musher-Eizenman, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Laura Stafford, Ph.D. (Other)
Abby Braden, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Jari Willing, Ph.D (Committee Member)
107 p.
Developmental Psychology; Psychology
children; food cognitions; food decisions; health evaluations; taste evaluations; willingness to try

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dial, L. A. (2021). Are Fruit Snacks Like Fruit? Children's and Parents' Evaluations of Deceptive Packaged Foods [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1617378849140852

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dial, Lauren. Are Fruit Snacks Like Fruit? Children's and Parents' Evaluations of Deceptive Packaged Foods. 2021. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1617378849140852.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dial, Lauren. "Are Fruit Snacks Like Fruit? Children's and Parents' Evaluations of Deceptive Packaged Foods." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1617378849140852

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1617378849140852
363
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.