Study: Does label information reflect product properties? A Swiss case study of plant-based milk alternatives
In a study, a closer look was taken at the front-of-pack labels on plant-based milk alternatives available in the Swiss market.
The study concludes that there is a large heterogeneity in the types of labels on plant-based milk alternatives. Nutrition labels (e.g., «kcal per 100 ml», «no added sugar», «Nutri-Score») and diet labels (e.g., «vegan», «plant-based») are more common than sustainability labels (e.g., «organic», «climate footprint»).
The study found that labels such as «high protein» and «low fat» accurately reflect the nutritional value of the products, while the «no added sugar» label can be misleading. Products with «Nutri-Score» or «climate footprint» labels tend to be more expensive. The study suggests that clearer and more transparent labeling could help consumers make better-informed choices.