New Labels to Increase Healthy Food Consumption Are Being Tested in Houston

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A labeling system, known as “Go, Slow, Whoa!” is being tested in Houston, Texas ( approx. 43.8% Latino) in 10 corner stores in low-income communities, to see how to promote healthier eating habits.

The meaning behind the slogan “Go, Slow, Whoa!” is to encourage the healthiest items “Go” to be consumed the most often, “Slow” to be on food items that should be consumed in moderation and “Whoa” for packaged food items that should be avoided.

The one-year project, being funding by the Texas Medical Foundation, is being researched in collaboration with the Texas A&M School of Public Health, the Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the Children and Neighbors Defeat Obesity Houston (CAN DO Houston).

The plan includes training of corner store staff, health educators, research staff to help educate customers and maintain the labeling in stores. The researchers aim to increase the presence and visibility of healthy foods and health education materials by 15% and encourage healthier food policies statewide.

Current research shows that Latino’s often live in neighborhoods with little to no access to healthier foods, let alone healthier marketing of healthier foods. Increasing education and knowledge of healthy foods in corner stores in North Carolina and New York was proven in studies to increase purchases of healthier foods.

Researchers from this study in Houston also hope to see healthier food sales increase on food items labeled “Go”, hoping to see an overall increase of consumption of healthier foods.“The lessons learned from this project will improve understanding of public knowledge and behaviors related to healthy eating and help develop new ways to promote healthier food choices and maintain a straightforward labeling system for packaged foods,” McKyer said. “More importantly, the benefits will be reaped by populations who are most disadvantaged by the status quo. So we make an impact where it matters most.”

“The lessons learned from this project will improve understanding of public knowledge and behaviors related to healthy eating and help develop new ways to promote healthier food choices and maintain a straightforward labeling system for packaged foods,” Lisasko McKyer, PhD associate dean for Climate and Diversity and associate professor in the Texas A&M School of Public Health told Vital Record.

“More importantly, the benefits will be reaped by populations who are most disadvantaged by the status quo. So we make an impact where it matters most.”

By The Numbers By The Numbers

1

Supermarket

for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood

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