Tick tock: time for a change?
Simone Pettigrew A C , Zenobia Talati A and Bruce Neal BA School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
B The George Institute for Global Health, King George V Building, 83–117 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: simone.pettigrew@curtin.edu.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 27(2) 102-104 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE15084
Submitted: 19 July 2015 Accepted: 29 November 2015 Published: 31 March 2016
Abstract
Issue addressed: New developments in front-of-pack nutrition labelling are substantially improving the nutrition information available at the point of purchase. This has led to a need to reconsider the role of health logos such as the National Heart Foundation’s ‘Tick’.
Methods: Using a qualitative, exploratory approach involving 10 focus groups with adults and children, this study investigated consumers’ attitudes to the Tick and its relevance to their purchase decisions.
Results: Both adults and children exhibited awareness of the Tick and its aim to indicate healthier product alternatives. Views on the effectiveness of the Tick were polarised, with some considering it a useful tool and others querying the basis of its licensing arrangements.
Conclusions: While the Tick has in the past played a role in assisting consumers to make more informed decisions and encouraging favourable modification of the food supply, recent questions relating to its role and credibility have resulted in the Heart Foundation deciding to retire it.
So what?: After a quarter of a century in the Australian marketplace, the National Heart Foundation’s Tick program has been reviewed. The findings of the present study provide insight into consumers’ views of the Tick and suggest that the emergence of more comprehensive food labelling initiatives may make logo-based nutrition labels redundant.
Key words: nutrition, program evaluation, qualitative methods.
References
[1] Blewett N, Goddard N, Pettigrew S, Reynolds C, Yeatman H. Labelling logic – the final report of the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy. 2011. Available from: http://www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au/internet/foodlabelling/publishing.nsf/content/labelling-logic [Verified 15 February 2016].[2] Australian Department of Health. Legislative and governance forum on food regulation: final communique. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2014. Available from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/2E974DFE795B0521CA257D04000CB093/$File/DEPT006.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
[3] Australian Department of Health. Health star rating system: information for educators. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2015. Available from: http://www.healthstarrating.gov.au/internet/healthstarrating/publishing.nsf/Content/factsheet-educators [Verified 24 February 2016].
[4] Antúnez L, Giménez A, Maiche A, Ares G (2015) Influence of interpretation aids on attentional capture, visual processing, and understanding of front-of-package nutrition labels. J Nutr Educ Behav 47, 292–9.e1.
| Influence of interpretation aids on attentional capture, visual processing, and understanding of front-of-package nutrition labels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25878027PubMed |
[5] Kelly B, Hughes C, Chapman K, Louie JC-Y, Dixon H, Crawford J, King L, Daube M, Slevin T (2009) Consumer testing of the acceptability and effectiveness of front-of-pack food labelling systems for the Australian grocery market. Health Promot Int 24, 120–9.
| Consumer testing of the acceptability and effectiveness of front-of-pack food labelling systems for the Australian grocery market.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19336501PubMed |
[6] Williams P, McMahon A, Boustead R (2003) A case study of sodium reduction in breakfast cereals and the impact of the Pick the Tick food information program in Australia. Health Promot Int 18, 51–6.
| A case study of sodium reduction in breakfast cereals and the impact of the Pick the Tick food information program in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12571092PubMed |
[7] Wilson N, Nghiem N. Background report for BODE 3 modelling on estimating the impact of the Tick Programme in New Zealand (a Heart Health Food endorsement programme). Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago; 2014.
[8] Young L, Swinburn B (2002) Impact of the Pick the Tick food information programme on the salt content of food in New Zealand. Health Promot Int 17, 13–9.
| Impact of the Pick the Tick food information programme on the salt content of food in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11847134PubMed |
[9] National Heart Foundation (NHF). Heart Foundation Tick: two decades of helping Australians choose healthier foods. NHF; 2009. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Credentials-2009.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
[10] National Heart Foundation. 25 years of Heart Foundation Tick, media release, 7 October, 2014. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/news-media/Media-Releases-2014/Pages/25-years-heart-foundation-tick.aspx [Verified 24 February 2016].
[11] Jones SC. Fast food loses Tick but can the Heart Foundation regain its credibility? The Conversation, 21 September 1–3, 2011. Available from: http://theconversation.com/fast-food-loses-tick-but-can-the-heart-foundation-regain-its-credibility-3475 [Verified 24 February 2016].
[12] Wellard L, Glasson C, Chapman K (2012) Sales of healthy choices at fast food restaurants in Australia. Health Promot J Austr 23, 37–41.
[13] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australia’s Health 2012. Australia’s Health no. 13. Canberra: AIHW; 2012.
[14] Rayner M, Boaz A, Higginson C (2001) Consumer use of health-related endorsements on food labels in the United Kingdom and Australia. J Nutr Educ 33, 24–30.
| Consumer use of health-related endorsements on food labels in the United Kingdom and Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD383ptVGksA%3D%3D&md5=c03452ba41353c694338264d325872a0CAS | 12031202PubMed |
[15] Williams SL, Mummery KW (2013) Characteristics of consumers using ‘better for you’ front-of-pack food labelling schemes – an example from the Australian Heart Foundation Tick. Public Health Nutr 16, 2265–72.
| Characteristics of consumers using ‘better for you’ front-of-pack food labelling schemes – an example from the Australian Heart Foundation Tick.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23182399PubMed |
[16] Arganini C, Saba A, Comitato R, Virgili F, Turrini A. Gender differences in food choice and dietary intake in modern western societies. In Maddock J, editor. Public health – social and behavioral health (pp. 83–102). Rijecka, Croatia: InTech; 2012.
[17] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Australian social trends 2009. Catalogue no. 4102.0. Canberra, ACT: ABS; 2009.
[18] TNS Social Research Consultants, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Consumer attitudes survey 2007: a benchmark survey of consumers’ attitudes to food issues. Canberra: FSANZ; 2007.
[19] Pettigrew S, Pescud M (2013) The salience of food labeling among low-income families with overweight children. J Nutr Educ Behav 45, 332–9.
| The salience of food labeling among low-income families with overweight children.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23611787PubMed |
[20] Mhurchu CN, Gorton D (2007) Nutrition labels and claims in New Zealand and Australia: a review of use and understanding. Aust N Z J Public Health 31, 105–12.
| Nutrition labels and claims in New Zealand and Australia: a review of use and understanding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17460999PubMed |