Dual-Label Intervention to Promote Low-Carbon and Healthy Food Choices in a University Cafeteria

NCT07531524 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: DLCD-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate whether a dual-label intervention, combining carbon -coded footprint color labels and calorie information, can promote low-carbon and healthier food choices among university students in a real-world cafeteria setting. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with approximately 200 participants, who will be assigned to either an intervention group (with labels) or a control group (without labels). The study a consists of 2-week baseline period, a 4-week intervention period, and a 2-week a follow-up period. The primary outcome is the mean carbon footprint level of selected meals, and secondary outcomes include nutritional quality, body composition, and changes in environmental and health awareness.

Conditions

Eating Behavior; Dietary Behavior

Keywords

Carbon label; Calorie label

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Carbon footprint of selected food items

  Average carbon footprint of food items selected per participant in a university cafeteria setting, calculated based on carbon emission values and compared between intervention and control groups.

  4 weeks for intervention period

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Calorie content of selected food items

  4 weeks for intervention period

• Nutritional quality score of selected food items

  4 weeks for intervention period

• Body mass index

  Baseline and 4 weeks.

• Body weight

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• Environmental awareness score

  Baseline to 4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Food purchased with carbon and calorie labels.

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will select their meals from designated cafeteria windows where food items display dual labels combining carbon footprint color-coding (Green=Low, Yellow=Medium, Red=High carbon emissions per 100g) and explicit calorie values (kcal per 100g). The intervention lasts 4 weeks, preceded by a 2-week baseline period and followed by a 2-week follow-up period without labels. Meal selections will be recorded daily via photo uploads.

Behavioral: Carbon and Calorie label

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm will select their meals from designated cafeteria windows where no carbon or calorie labels are displayed. The menu offerings, pricing, and food placement remain identical to the intervention arm. Meal selections will be recorded daily via photo uploads throughout the 2-week baseline, 4-week observation period, and 2-week follow-up phase

Interventions

Carbon and Calorie label BEHAVIORAL

Participants are exposed to carbon footprint and calorie information presented on labels attached to serving trays in a university cafeteria. The labels use visual cues (e.g., traffic-light colors) to indicate environmental impact and energy content of food items at the point of selection.

Food purchased with carbon and calorie labels.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Students enrolled at the university
• Regularly purchase food in the university cafeteria
• Aged ≥18 years

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals aged \<18 years
• Individuals who do not regularly purchase food in the university cafeteria
• Individuals unable to participate throughout the study period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lina Zhang: lead

Study Sites (1)

Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior

Interventions

Carbon

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Elements; Inorganic Chemicals

Study Officials

• Lina Zhang, Ph.D

  School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Cun Lin

CONTACT

+8618190275899; 202312210602027@zcmu.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2026
• First Posted: April 15, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)