The role of nudges in food choices

Abstract

Nudging, a behavioural intervention based on choice architecture, is increasingly used to promote healthier and more sustainable food choices. This umbrella review summarises evidence from systematic reviews to assess its effectiveness and identify research gaps. A systematic search of Web of Science and Scopus identified 36 systematic reviews published between 2013 and 2025. Most systematic reviews focused on health-related food nudges, with only three discussing nudges in the scope of promoting environmentally friendly food choices, highlighting a notable imbalance in the current literature. Reviews were evaluated using the updated version of A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2), which revealed that only one review was rated as high quality, 16 as moderate, 9 as low and 10 as critically low, indicating insufficient quality. Results were categorised using an extended Typology of interventions in proximal physical micro-environments (TIPPME) framework. Nudges showed small to moderate effects on food choice, with default and positional nudges being the most effective. Interventions where nudges were combined with other interventions, such as financial or educational strategies, were more promising than nudges alone, but more evidence is needed. Inconsistencies in the classification of nudges in different studies underline the need for standardisation. Future research should focus on the standardisation of nudge classifications, the evaluation of long-term effects and the exploration of integrated policy approaches.