Using Behavioral Economics to Improve Nutrition Labeling and Food Choices in Greater Boston Food Pantries

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of behavioral economics tools to encourage food pantries affiliated with the Greater Boston Food Bank to implement the Supporting Wellness at Pantries SWAP program. This program uses traffic light labels on pantry shelves to help clients make healthier food choices. The study is a 12-month cluster randomized controlled trial involving 30 pantries to compare a basic SWAP implementation strategy with a behavioral economics-enhanced strategy. The trial divides pantries into two groups one receives behavioral nudges like invoice labeling, free SWAP toolkits, learning communities, purchase incentives, and recognition to support SWAP implementation. The other group receives email information and encouragement to obtain SWAP toolkits independently. After 12 months, the enhanced strategy will be offered to the control pantries, while the intervention pantries continue without further support. Participants, including pantry clients aged 18 and older who speak English or Spanish, will be assessed at 6 and 12 months. Researchers will measure how well pantries implement SWAP, the proportion of green or red labeled items ordered and selected by clients, and client dietary quality scores. Skin carotenoid levels will also be assessed as a secondary outcome. The study aims to understand how to improve pantry food choices and program uptake over one year.

Behavioral Economics to Implement a Traffic Light Nutrition Ranking System: Study 2