Behavioral Economics to Implement Nutrition Ranking in Food Pantries

Part of paid clinical trials in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Study ID
NCT05854212
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

Notify me when recruiting opens

Save your spot on the interest list for this study. We'll keep your details with this study so our team can follow up when recruiting opens.

Not yet recruiting

Add your contact details and location so we can keep your interest tied to this study.

Conditions

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Dietary Quality
  • Food Insecurity
  • Implementation Science

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 90 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface — BEHAVIORAL
    The intervention changes the ordering platform visible to food agencies using behavioral economics strategies to promote healthier food choices.

Study Details

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test whether using behavioral economic strategies to promote healthy food choices on a food bank's online ordering platform increases the use of the traffic light nutrition ranking system and increases healthier food selections by the food agencies (e.g., food pantries) who use the food bank.

Key Dates

Start date
Jan 1, 2027
Status verified
Jan 2026
Primary completion
Apr 1, 2027
Completion
Jun 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
364 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface
    Food agencies will see the behavioral economics (BE)-enhanced interface by default; food items will be sorted with green-labeled items listed first, followed by yellow, then red. If users search for a specific item type (e.g., chicken) the results returned for that item type will also be sorted so that green-labeled items are listed first. At any time during the ordering episode, users will have the option to switch from the BE-enhanced default to an alternate sorting or filtering choice, such as alphabetical or cost. Users will be shown the percent of items (by weight) that are labeled green in a prominent location on the ordering screen. The percent green-labeled items in the order will appear alongside messaging reporting the average percent green-labeled items ordered by GBFB pantries that rank in the top 10% based on this metric. Agencies will receive monthly emails from GBFB about SWAP, describing why common items receive certain SWAP rankings (e.g., item is yellow vs green).
  • No Intervention: Usual user interface
    When agency staff log on to the food bank platform, by default, foods are listed in alphabetical order. If they wish, users can change how items are sorted or filtered using pull-down menus and check-boxes, including the ability to have items sorted or filtered based on traffic light labels. As orders are created, an information section at the top of the page is updated with details on the order weight and cost. Agencies will not receive emails about SWAP.

Primary Outcome Measure

Healthy food agency orders from the food bank [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusetts02114-

Find similar trials in Boston, MA

By research site
Massachusetts General Hospital· Boston, MA

Related Studies