Research advances in Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labeling and stages of policy life cycles: A Systematic Review

Over the past years, policymakers and institutions have begun adopting Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labels (FOPLs) as an effective measure to counteract the rise in overweight and obesity, a major concern with negative consequences for individuals and health systems. The current landscape presents a wide variety of FOPL proposals, ranging from more directive to more informative solutions, within a context of varying stages of market implementation. Through a systematic review of the most recent research on FOPLs (2020-2024), this paper aims to provide a perspective on the latest advances in the research, also showing how research productivity and areas of investigation varies across countries in different stages of the policy lifecycle. Evidence suggests that the effectiveness of FOPLs depends not only on their design and clarity but also on the regulatory framework, consumer familiarity, and broader public health strategies. This underscores the need for continuous research advancements to address varying policymaking priorities at different stages of policy development.