Tag: Health halo effect

According to a 2013 study published in *BMJ*, diners at Subway significantly underestimated the calories in their meals compared to other fast-food chains. This article explores why consumers might misjudge their intake and investigates if Subway underestimate calories due to its 'healthy' marketing.

According to nutrition experts, a significant portion of store-bought veggie chips are more akin to regular potato chips than fresh vegetables. So, how healthy are garden veggie chips really? The colorful appearance and vegetable-based name can create a 'health halo' effect, deceiving consumers into believing they are a nutritious alternative to traditional snacks.

According to a 2025 study published in *The Organic Halo Effect*, participants perceived organic-labeled food as having lower calorie content than conventional food, despite nutritional similarities. This cognitive bias, which is a prime example of the health halo effect, demonstrates how a single attribute can mislead us into believing a product is healthier overall. This article explores how to recognize and avoid such psychological tricks when grocery shopping and dining out.

According to a study cited by nutrition experts, some Boost Juice smoothies can contain up to 22 teaspoons of sugar, potentially dwarfing the sugar load of a standard can of Coca-Cola. This astonishing fact challenges the common perception that fruit juice is always the healthier option and prompts the question: Does Boost Juice have more sugar than Coke?

Despite popular belief, scientific analysis reveals there are no significant nutritional differences between organic and regular granulated sugar. While processing methods differ, the body metabolizes both the same way. This guide will uncover whether organic sugar is healthier than regular sugar by examining its cultivation, refining, and actual health impact.

In a 2006 study published in the *Journal of Marketing Research*, participants consumed up to 28% more calories of candy when it was labeled as 'low-fat'. This surprising research highlights the complex question: can low-fat nutrition labels lead to obesity?

Despite the healthy-sounding name, research shows many store-bought veggie chips are nutritionally comparable to or only marginally better than regular potato chips. So, are veggie chips healthier than chips, or is this just clever marketing at play?

According to research on consumer perception, a single positive attribute of a food can lead to overestimating its overall healthfulness, a bias known as the “health halo” effect. So, when people ask, "Are halos healthy?", the answer depends entirely on which type of "halo" is in question, from a nutrient-rich fruit to a low-calorie frozen treat or even a marketing gimmick.

According to a 2019 FDA survey, only 63% of respondents could accurately interpret the % Daily Value on food labels, and this lack of understanding contributes to why front of box labels are often criticized by nutrition experts. These critiques stem from the labels' simplified, marketing-driven approach that can obscure the true nutritional quality of a product.

Over 50% of your daily recommended vitamin C can be found in just two medium Wonderful Halos mandarins, a popular, sweet citrus fruit. However, when asking, 'Do halos have any nutritional value?', it's crucial to distinguish between this nutritious fruit and the deceptive marketing phenomenon known as the 'health halo' effect, which can mislead consumers into making poor dietary choices.