THE MAGNIFYING GLASS FRONT-OF-PACKAGE NUTRITION LABELING SYSTEM MODIFIES THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SKIN CONDUCTANCE RESPONSE AND HEALTHINESS PERCEPTION.

Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are poor in nutritional value, but extremely palatable and receive aggressive marketing. These characteristics can be considered environmental cues that evoke great activation of the appetitive motivation system, prompting approach behavior towards them. The growing consumption of UPF is a serious threat to public health since it is linked to the development of non-communicable diseases. Front-of-package nutrition labeling system (FoPNL) has been implemented in numerous countries in order to promote better eating habits based on active and conscious choices, and reduction in UPF consumption. For all these reasons, considering that emotional and affective responses play an important role in eating habits and choices, evaluating if FoPNL can impact such emotional responses to UPF in healthy individuals, would be of great value. Skin conductance response, mediated by the activity of the eccrine sweat glands, reflects the activation of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system and has been reported as a good direct assessment of food-evoked emotional response. But it is still not clear whether skin conductance response could be modified by UPF with and without FoPNL, and if it could be influenced by the healthiness perception.