Published in Social Science & Medicine to mark World Food Day on 16 October, the article titled A randomised control trial on the impact of nudges, information and incentives on food choices of vulnerable families underscores the power of education in fostering healthy eating habits.

The study, led by Toni Mora, director of the Research Institute for Evaluation and Public Policies analysed the consumption patterns of 1,163 recipients of food aid vouchers distributed by the Red Cross in Catalonia to families in situations of extreme vulnerability. The findings show that workshops delivered by nutritionists can improve the nutritional quality of food purchases among vulnerable families, whereas financial incentives appear insufficient when the goal is to enhance nutritional quality rather than quantity.

The academic publication concludes that all awareness-raising actions promoting healthier food choices had a positive impact on the study sample. Participants were divided into four groups, including a control group. One group attended workshops on dietary guidelines, the second received text messages encouraging healthier food purchases, and the third received additional financial support on top of the aid already provided by the Red Cross in Catalonia.

According to the values set by the Spanish Healthy Eating Index (IASE), the group that attended workshops involving group dynamics on healthy eating, shopping optimisation and emotional eating showed the greatest improvement in the nutritional quality of their purchases. The IASE classifies food into 10 groups and assigns a score from 1 to 10 based on nutritional recommendations.

The group that received text messages with nutritional advice, such as including more fruit and vegetables in their diet or avoiding processed foods, also responded positively to the study However, according to the authors, participants who received an additional €70 did not significantly change their purchasing choices in two of the three indices measured.

While sending text messages is the least costly option, the educational workshops proved to be the most impactful intervention in helping vulnerable families change their consumption habits and opt for healthier food choices.

World Food Day

World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to raise awareness of food-related issues. As the article notes, and according to the World Health Organization, obesity is associated with a range of preventable chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes.

The authors stress that promoting healthier food choices in low-income communities is a priority for public policy makers. They also highlight the usefulness of these findings in improving health policies for families in vulnerable situations.

IRAPP

The Research Institute for Evaluation and Public Policies (IRAPP) aims to improve individual and societal decision-making in health and education through multidisciplinary research. It seeks to promote informed decision-making in both health and education – key pillars of our welfare state.

The study was conducted by Toni Mora (UIC Barcelona); Eleonora Fichera (University of Bath); Beatriz G. López-Valcárcel (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria); Blanca Raidó-Quintana (Red Cross, University of Barcelona); and Pedro Rey-Biel (Ramon Llull University, ESADE).