SERVING size information on packaged snacks rarely matches front-of-pack cues, limiting portion guidance in supermarkets today.
Serving Size Information Often Conflicts with Front Images
Energy-dense, nutrient-poor packaged snacks are a staple of modern food environments and may contribute to excess energy intake over time. To understand whether packaging helps consumers judge portions, researchers assessed the presence of on-pack visual cues and structural features that could nudge portion control in Australian supermarkets.
The team examined 1,930 products across six common snack categories: ice-cream, chocolate, lollies, sweet biscuits, savory biscuits, and crisps. Most items were sold as share packs (73.5%), followed by multipacks (19.9%) and single packs (6.5%). This matters because larger packs can encourage larger portions, and packaging is often the last “decision point” before eating.
In share packs, fewer than half of products (47%) displayed front-of-pack images that aligned with the manufacturer-suggested serving sizes listed on the Nutrition Information Panel. In other words, the image on the front frequently did not reflect what the label defined as a single serve, which may make it harder for consumers to translate serving size information into a realistic portion.
Portion Control Cues Are Rare on Packaged Snacks
The researchers also looked for structural features that can support portion control cues, including transparency, partitioning, and resealability. These features were uncommon, appearing in under 30% of products. With share packs dominating the shelves, limited use of resealable closures or partitioned formats may reduce natural stopping points that could help spread intake across multiple occasions.
Overall, the findings suggest that current packaging practices do not consistently reinforce serving size information at the moment consumers are choosing and opening snacks. The authors argue there are practical opportunities to improve on-pack cues and portion guides, particularly by better aligning front-of-pack imagery with label serving sizes and by more routinely incorporating portion-supportive packaging features. They also note that additional research is needed to determine whether observed cues are intentional and to test how specific packaging changes influence purchasing and consumption patterns in real-world settings.
Reference: Liu Q et al. Serving Size Information and Portion Control Cues on Energy-Dense Nutrient-Poor Packaged Snacks in Australian Supermarkets: Current Practices and Opportunities. Foods. 2026;15(2):397.
