A dynamic social norm messaging intervention to reduce meat consumption: a randomized cross-over trial in retail store restaurants

Elif Naz Çoker, Rachel Pechey, Kerstin Frie, Susan A Jebb, Cristina Stewart, Suzanne Higgs, Brian Cook

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Abstract

Perceptions of social norms around eating behavior can influence food choices. Communicating information about how others are changing their eating behavior over time (dynamic descriptive social norms) may motivate individuals to change their own food selection and consumption. Following a four-week baseline period, 22 in-store restaurants of a major retail chain across the UK were randomized to display a dynamic descriptive social norm message intended to motivate a shift from meat-to plant-based meals either during the first two, or last two weeks of the four-week study period. A linear regression model showed there was no evidence of an effect of the intervention (β = -0.022, p = .978, 95% CIs: -1.63, 1.58) on the percentage sales of meat- vs plant-based dishes. Fidelity checks indicated that adherence to the intervention procedure was often low, with inconsistencies in the placement and display of the intervention message. In four stores with high fidelity the estimated impact of the intervention was not materially different. The lack of apparent effectiveness of the intervention may reflect poor efficacy of the intervention or limitations in its implementation in a complex food purchasing environment. The challenges highlighted by this study should be considered in future design and evaluation of field trials in real-world settings.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105824
JournalAppetite
Volume169
Early online date23 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the Wellcome Trust , Our Planet Our Health (Livestock, Environment and People –LEAP) award number 205212/Z/16/Z. For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. The funders did not have a role in the study design or the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021

Keywords

  • Dietary choice
  • Dynamic norms
  • Intervention
  • Meat consumption
  • Social influences
  • Social norms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychology(all)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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