Author(s) :

Hanzla Mehmood, Hafiz Mustafa Saeed, Areeb Hussain, Haram Mehmood.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Food labels are the very first impression of the food product, so we can't underestimate the importance of the food labels. However, there is always a debate on the constituents or layout of the food labels. The importance of nutritional information on the food labels as a necessary component can't be neglected. Still, most food labels cannot deliver their message to consumers due to nutritional literacy, demographics, and cognitive pressure. This gap has paved the way for visual labels that are appealing and easy to understand, adding a convenient way to deliver. This review article discusses the importance of both visual and textual labels with a motive to adopt a balanced approach in food labeling, which is necessary for better consumer understanding and decision-making ability. Different studies have shown that visual labels containing warning symbols, color coding systems, and visual representation of textures help in quicker processing attraction and are also less hectic, putting less cognitive load than the heavy text labels that are technical and require more time to process with prior food knowledge. Further, this review has also discussed the emotional link between consumer product choices and personal health concerns. The main challenge experienced by the food labels is consumer literacy, which is somehow linked to demographics like low-income consumer groups or underdeveloped communities, making it difficult to prioritize health due to availability and literacy issues. This review also discusses how visual labels are well adapted to modern human psychology, where humans mostly prefer immediate decisions using clues rather than deep analytical processing of information on food labels. This review suggests that visual labels must consider transparency, clarity, and visual appeal to target a broader range of consumers. The visually driven labeling practices can bridge healthier food choices and consumer understanding, contributing to better consumer purchasing behavior. This review also suggests a new food labeling technique, calling on the researchers to check the implications.

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