Do labels on packaged foods affect our choices?
A $5 million grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand will try to find the answer.
A team of nutritionists from New Zealand and Australia will also look to see whether health star ratings help us follow a healthier diet.
Auckland University Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu is leading the research.
She told Mike Hosking they will look at information collected over five or six years on more than 100,000 foods.
"If it affects peoples choices [and] it is overall in a small way, but it is probably within shoppers and consumers who are really interested in nutrition"
Cliona Ni Mhurchu says the ratings are more likely to affect the industry.
LISTEN ABOVE AS AUCKLAND UNIVERSITYÂ PROFESSOR CLIONA NI MHURCHU SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING
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