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The World Food Policy Center (WFPC) is implementing a pilot project with NC State’s Safe Plates Program from January-June 2026. The project hopes to generate preliminary data that could be used to validate initial hypotheses and form the basis of applications to NIFA or other funding sources. Framing Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels are central to federal efforts to support healthier food choices in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing required FOP nutrition labels on most packaged foods to help consumers more easily assess how products fit into a healthy diet. A large literature shows that FOP labels improve consumers’ understanding of product healthfulness and promote healthier food choices; however, studies also document substantial variation in their effectiveness across population subgroups. These differences are especially important given that lower-income individuals experience disproportionate burdens of diet-related disease. Research on financial scarcity further demonstrates that insufficient financial resources can trigger a stress response that impairs cognitive functioning. Financial strain contributes to cognitive load, a tax on mental bandwidth that reduces attentional capacity and interferes with executive function. These reductions in cognitive resources may hinder individuals’ ability to interpret FOP labels. Yet no research to date has directly examined which FOP label formats perform best under high levels of cognitive load. This study will examine how socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive load shape perceptions of healthfulness across three labeling formats: - the Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP)
- the proposed FDA FOP label
Research Questions · How does cognitive load affect consumers’ ability to assess product healthfulness across different nutrition label formats? · Which FOP label format performs best under conditions of high cognitive load and among low-SES consumers? The WFPC anticipates much of the work will be conducted remotely. Bi-weekly meetings with WFPC research manager (Jack Daly) will be expected via Zoom or in person. The student will also work with WFPC Post Doc affiliate Noah Gibson. The WFPC will pay the Sanford School rate ($16.75/hour). The time commitment is expected to be 8-12 hours per week. Please reach out to WFPC research manager Jack Daly (jack.daly@duke.edu) with introductory emails if interested.
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