Assessing the influence of information on the intention to use dietary supplements: An online questionnaire study

Karin G.m. Lenssen; Alvaro Garcia Fuentes; Frits H.m. Van Osch; Aalt Bast; Alie De Boer

doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022.105017

Assessing the influence of information on the intention to use dietary supplements: An online questionnaire study

Karin G.m. Lenssen^*, Alvaro Garcia Fuentes, Frits H.m. Van Osch, Aalt Bast, Alie De Boer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Since it is observed that the consumption of herbal dietary supplements is increasing, we aimed to research whether front-of-pack risk and benefit information influences a consumer’s intention to use (ITU) a dietary supplement.

A total of 268 subjects participated in an online questionnaire, in which they were exposed to one of four different labels with risk and/or benefit information about the product, and were provided with additional risk-benefit information. Their ITU was measured at three time points: after exposure to the label, after reading the additional information and after a wash-out period.

The results from our study showed that information on the label did not significantly impact the ITU. In all groups, ITU significantly increased after exposure to detailed information, and again after the wash-out period.

We therefore conclude that front-of-pack information did not influence a consumer’s intention to use dietary supplements, but additional information may have influenced their intentions.

Original language	English
Article number	105017
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Functional Foods
Volume	92
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2022.105017
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2022

Keywords

BEHAVIOR
CONSUMERS
Consumer protection
DISCLAIMERS
FOOD
Food information
HEALTH CLAIMS
Health claims
Label
RISK PERCEPTION
Risk-benefit information
ST-JOHNS-WORT

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10.1016/j.jff.2022.105017Licence: CC BY

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1756464622000871

Cite this

@article{6aaccbe4264844d4b415c5f5bafd9a22,

title = "Assessing the influence of information on the intention to use dietary supplements: An online questionnaire study",

abstract = "Since it is observed that the consumption of herbal dietary supplements is increasing, we aimed to research whether front-of-pack risk and benefit information influences a consumer{\textquoteright}s intention to use (ITU) a dietary supplement.A total of 268 subjects participated in an online questionnaire, in which they were exposed to one of four different labels with risk and/or benefit information about the product, and were provided with additional risk-benefit information. Their ITU was measured at three time points: after exposure to the label, after reading the additional information and after a wash-out period.The results from our study showed that information on the label did not significantly impact the ITU. In all groups, ITU significantly increased after exposure to detailed information, and again after the wash-out period.We therefore conclude that front-of-pack information did not influence a consumer{\textquoteright}s intention to use dietary supplements, but additional information may have influenced their intentions.",

keywords = "BEHAVIOR, CONSUMERS, Consumer protection, DISCLAIMERS, FOOD, Food information, HEALTH CLAIMS, Health claims, Label, RISK PERCEPTION, Risk-benefit information, ST-JOHNS-WORT",

author = "Lenssen, {Karin G.m.} and {Garcia Fuentes}, Alvaro and {Van Osch}, {Frits H.m.} and Aalt Bast and {De Boer}, Alie",

note = "Funding Information: The research presented in this study has been made possible by the Dutch Province of Limburg. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

year = "2022",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.jff.2022.105017",

language = "English",

volume = "92",

journal = "Journal of Functional Foods",

issn = "1756-4646",

publisher = "Elsevier Science",

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T1 - Assessing the influence of information on the intention to use dietary supplements: An online questionnaire study

AU - Lenssen, Karin G.m.

AU - Garcia Fuentes, Alvaro

AU - Van Osch, Frits H.m.

AU - Bast, Aalt

AU - De Boer, Alie

PY - 2022/5/1

Y1 - 2022/5/1

N2 - Since it is observed that the consumption of herbal dietary supplements is increasing, we aimed to research whether front-of-pack risk and benefit information influences a consumer’s intention to use (ITU) a dietary supplement.A total of 268 subjects participated in an online questionnaire, in which they were exposed to one of four different labels with risk and/or benefit information about the product, and were provided with additional risk-benefit information. Their ITU was measured at three time points: after exposure to the label, after reading the additional information and after a wash-out period.The results from our study showed that information on the label did not significantly impact the ITU. In all groups, ITU significantly increased after exposure to detailed information, and again after the wash-out period.We therefore conclude that front-of-pack information did not influence a consumer’s intention to use dietary supplements, but additional information may have influenced their intentions.

AB - Since it is observed that the consumption of herbal dietary supplements is increasing, we aimed to research whether front-of-pack risk and benefit information influences a consumer’s intention to use (ITU) a dietary supplement.A total of 268 subjects participated in an online questionnaire, in which they were exposed to one of four different labels with risk and/or benefit information about the product, and were provided with additional risk-benefit information. Their ITU was measured at three time points: after exposure to the label, after reading the additional information and after a wash-out period.The results from our study showed that information on the label did not significantly impact the ITU. In all groups, ITU significantly increased after exposure to detailed information, and again after the wash-out period.We therefore conclude that front-of-pack information did not influence a consumer’s intention to use dietary supplements, but additional information may have influenced their intentions.

KW - BEHAVIOR

KW - CONSUMERS

KW - Consumer protection

KW - DISCLAIMERS

KW - FOOD

KW - Food information

KW - HEALTH CLAIMS

KW - Health claims

KW - Label

KW - RISK PERCEPTION

KW - Risk-benefit information

KW - ST-JOHNS-WORT

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DO - 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105017

M3 - Article

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VL - 92

JO - Journal of Functional Foods

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