Food labeled ‘snack’ vs ‘meal’ may lead to eating more

A study published in the journal Appetite suggested that marketing food as a snack may lead to increased consumption and continued overeating. Jane Ogden, researcher and professor at the University of Surrey, and her researchers examined the impact of labeling food products as “snacks” vs “meals.”

The researchers asked 80 participants to eat pasta that was either labeled as a “snack” or as a “meal.” Snacks were eaten standing up from a plastic pot with a plastic fork, while the meals were eaten seated at a table from a ceramic plate and metal fork. Once consumed, participants were invited to take part in an additional taste test of different foods (animal biscuits, M&M’s, and mini cheddars.)

The researchers found that those who had eaten pasta labeled as a “snack” ate more at the taste test then when it had been labeled as a “meal.” In addition, participants who ate the snack consumed more (50% more total mass, sweet mass, and total calories and 100% more M&M’s) than those who had eaten the meal.

The researchers concluded that when food is labeled as a “snack” rather than a “meal” the consumption is higher, especially when standing rather than sitting. They have attributed this to a combination of factors and believe that when eating a snack, we are more easily distracted and may not be conscious of consumption. They also argue that memories for snacks and meals may be encoded differently in our subconscious and that we are unable to recall what we have eaten as a “snack.”

Study