The Influence of Sustainability Labels on Consumer Purchasing Decisions for Food Products

Sustainability labels can help consumers evaluate food products and may encourage more favourable attitudes or purchase intentions. Their influence depends on whether consumers notice and understand the claim, trust its verification, and can afford and access the product. Indian survey evidence also suggests that environmental concern, moral obligation, social norms and purchase intention may be associated with reported behaviour, with income playing a moderating role (Sharief & Panghal, 2023). Labels are best viewed as one part of a broader effort to support informed and sustainable food choices—not as a complete solution by themselves.

·                  Cook, B., Costa Leite, J., Rayner, M., Stoffel, S., van Rijn, E., & Wollgast, J. (2023). Consumer interaction with sustainability labelling on food products: A narrative literature review. Nutrients, 15(17), 3837. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15173837 ·                  Deconinck, K., Giner, C., Hobeika, M., & Nauges, C. (2025). How do consumers interact with environmental sustainability claims on food? Evidence from 40 countries. OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Papers, No. 218. https://doi.org/10.1787/0587c663-en ·                  OECD. (2025). Enabling trust in food labels for improved environmental outcomes: Insights from OECD analysis. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. ·                  Sharief, Z., & Panghal, A. (2023). Sustainable consumption: Consumer behavior when purchasing sustainability-labeled food products. Indian Journal of Marketing, 53(8). https://doi.org/10.17010/ijom/2023/v53/i8/172975