Welfare Effects of Food Miles Labels

Abstract

We assessed the consumer welfare effects of two generic food miles labels: carbon dioxide (CO2) emission label and time and number of kilometers label. Using data from a choice experiment, our results generally suggest that a mandatory labeling policy for either type of label would have a positive welfare effect. However, a label informing consumers about the time and number of kilometers the food product has traveled provides greater positive welfare effects than a label informing consumers about the amount of CO2 emission.