Effectiveness of different front-of-pack nutrition labels among italian consumers: Results from an online randomized controlled trial

In Italy, discussions are currently ongoing to implement a front-of-pack nutrition label (FoPL) while a growing number of European countries are adopting the Nutri-Score. The effectiveness of the Nutri-Score among Italian consumers requires further investigation. This study compared five FoPLs among Italian participants (Health Star Rating system, multiple traffic lights, Nutri-Score, reference intakes, warning symbol) in terms of food choices and understanding of the labels by consumers. In 2019, 1032 Italian consumers completed an online survey in which they were asked to select one product they would likely purchase from a set of three foods with different nutrient profiles and then classify the products within the set according to their nutritional quality, first with no label and then with one of the five FoPLs on the pack. While no significant difference across labels was observed for food choices, the Nutri-Score demonstrated the highest overall performance in helping consumers to correctly rank the products according to their nutritional quality compared to the reference intakes (OR = 2.18 (1.50–3.17), p-value < 0.0001). Our results provide new insights on the effectiveness of the Nutri-Score, which would be a relevant tool to inform Italian consumers on the nutritional quality of food products

Study on the Cross-border Legal Protection of Vulnerable Adults in the EU

The study’s objective is to evaluate the main legal difficulties and practical challenges in the cooperation within the EU in the field of the protection of vulnerable adults, and to assess the need for and the possible added value of a common legal framework for the protection of vulnerable adults in cross-border cases, either through mandatory ratification of the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults or via the adoption of an EU instrument to reinforce and streamline the judicial cooperation in that area. To this end, the study examines the national laws and practices of the Member States with regard to the roles and functioning of competent authorities, the different types of measures of protection provided for in the national legal systems, the main procedural rules applying to these measures, as well as the private international law rules in place for cross-border cases. The data presented in the report is based on desk research, as well as on the results of an online survey targeted at national competent authorities, legal practitioners and other stakeholders involved in the protection of vulnerable adults (e.g. NGOs, service providers). On the basis of the data collected, and in particular the information gathered on the existing problems in judicial cooperation between Member States and disparities in the current level of protection of vulnerable adults across the EU stemming from the absence of a common legal framework, the need, added value and feasibility of further action at EU level, which may take the form of a mandatory ratification of the Convention and/or of EU legislation on the matter, was assessed