Food InsecurityNCT05854212
Behavioral Economics to Implement Nutrition Ranking in Food Pantries
A study testing Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface in people with Food Insecurity and Dietary Quality, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 90 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Food Insecurity, Dietary Quality, Behavioral Economics
- What is being tested?
- Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 364 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2027to 30 Jun 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 90 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Food agencies that order food from the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) online ordering platform.
Who cannot join
- Food agencies that do not order food from the GBFB online platform within 2 months of the start of the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
About this study
Official title: Behavioral Economics to Implement a Traffic Light Nutrition Ranking System in a Network of Food Pantries
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.
Read the detailed description
This study will use behavioral economic strategies to promote utilization of traffic-light nutrition ranking in the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) order system to improve the dietary quality of food ordered by GBFB agencies. Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) is a program to guide both traffic light labeling for use on ordering platforms and pantry shelves, as well as food pantry layout to inform clients and encourage healthy food choice.This study is a collaboration with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to test BE strategies (choice architecture, framing, social norms) for implementation of an evidence-based intervention (traffic light nutrition ranking, SWAP). We will determine if behavioral economic interventions on the GBFB online ordering platform increase agencies' use of traffic light nutrition labels when placing orders and increases their healthy food orders. We will conduct a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing agencies' ordering experiences and outcomes with the current user interface (control) to a "SWAP-enhanced" user interface (intervention). All GBFB partner agencies will be randomized to see either the control or intervention interfaces when they log on to ShopGBFB, GBFB's online food ordering platform. In addition, intervention group agencies will receive monthly emails from GBFB about SWAP labeling, such as why common items receive certain rankings (e.g., canned green beans will have a yellow label if there is added sodium) and common misunderstandings people have about SWAP labels (e.g., explaining why all chicken items do not get the same SWAP ranking). At the end of 12 months, agency staff will complete a survey about their online ordering experiences at GBFB. In the next phase, the SWAP-enhanced ShopGBFB interface will be updated, adapted, and implemented for all 364 agencies that place orders. Agency ordering outcomes will be monitored for 12 additional months.
- Being tested
- Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Behavioral economics-enhanced user interfaceBehavioural
The intervention changes the ordering platform visible to food agencies using behavioral economics strategies to promote healthier food choices.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface | Experimental | 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). Receives: Behavioral: Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface |
| Usual user interface | No intervention | 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. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Healthy food agency orders from the food bank
This will be the change from baseline to 12 months in the percentage of foods ordered (by weight) that have green labels.
Measured: 12 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Proportion of agencies that ever used the traffic light label sorting or filtering when ordering from the food bank
This outcome will be the proportion of agencies in the intervention vs. control group that report using the traffic-light sorting/filtering when making orders during the 12 month intervention period.
Measured: 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 May 2023
- Study start1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Food InsecurityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Massachusetts General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Food agencies will be randomized to one of two interfaces on the online food bank ordering platform.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 364 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Anne N. Thorndike, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05854212
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023p001207
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 3 May 2023
- Last updated
- 2 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Behavioral Economics to Implement a Traffic Light Nutrition Ranking System in a Network of Food Pantries
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05854212
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023p001207
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 364 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 May 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
This study will use behavioral economic strategies to promote utilization of traffic-light nutrition ranking in the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) order system to improve the dietary quality of food ordered by GBFB agencies. Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) is a program to guide both traffic light labeling for use on ordering platforms and pantry shelves, as well as food pantry layout to inform clients and encourage healthy food choice.This study is a collaboration with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to test BE strategies (choice architecture, framing, social norms) for implementation of an evidence-based intervention (traffic light nutrition ranking, SWAP). We will determine if behavioral economic interventions on the GBFB online ordering platform increase agencies' use of traffic light nutrition labels when placing orders and increases their healthy food orders. We will conduct a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing agencies' ordering experiences and outcomes with the current user interface (control) to a "SWAP-enhanced" user interface (intervention). All GBFB partner agencies will be randomized to see either the control or intervention interfaces when they log on to ShopGBFB, GBFB's online food ordering platform. In addition, intervention group agencies will receive monthly emails from GBFB about SWAP labeling, such as why common items receive certain rankings (e.g., canned green beans will have a yellow label if there is added sodium) and common misunderstandings people have about SWAP labels (e.g., explaining why all chicken items do not get the same SWAP ranking). At the end of 12 months, agency staff will complete a survey about their online ordering experiences at GBFB. In the next phase, the SWAP-enhanced ShopGBFB interface will be updated, adapted, and implemented for all 364 agencies that place orders. Agency ordering outcomes will be monitored for 12 additional months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Food agencies will be randomized to one of two interfaces on the online food bank ordering platform.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface | Experimental | Behavioral: Behavioral economics-enhanced user interfaceFood 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). |
| Usual user interface | No intervention | –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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Food agencies that order food from the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) online ordering platform.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Food agencies that do not order food from the GBFB online platform within 2 months of the start of the study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral economics-enhanced user interfaceThe intervention changes the ordering platform visible to food agencies using behavioral economics strategies to promote healthier food choices. | Behavioural | Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface |
Primary outcome
Healthy food agency orders from the food bank
Time frame: 12 months
This will be the change from baseline to 12 months in the percentage of foods ordered (by weight) that have green labels.
1 secondary outcome
Proportion of agencies that ever used the traffic light label sorting or filtering when ordering from the food bank
Time frame: 12 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Behavioral economics-enhanced user interface in people with Food Insecurity and Dietary Quality, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Anne Thorndike, MD, MPH (617-724-4608, athorndike@mgh.harvard.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Healthy food agency orders from the food bank (time frame: 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Feb 2026.