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. 2012 Nov;43(5):505-11.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.07.025.

Nutrition-labeling regulation impacts on restaurant environments

Brian E Saelens  1 , Nadine L Chan, James Krieger, Young Nelson, Myde Boles, Trina A Colburn, Karen Glanz, Myduc L Ta, Barbara Bruemmer
Affiliations

Nutrition-labeling regulation impacts on restaurant environments

Brian E Saelens et al. Am J Prev Med. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Recent attempts to improve the healthfulness of away-from-home eating include regulations requiring restaurants to post nutrition information. The impact of such regulations on restaurant environments is unknown.

Purpose: To examine changes in restaurant environments from before to after nutrition-labeling regulation in a newly regulated county versus a nonregulated county.

Methods: Using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-Restaurant version audit, environments within the same quick-service chain restaurants were evaluated in King County (regulated) before and 6 and 18 months after regulation enforcement and in Multnomah County (nonregulated) restaurants over a 6-month period. Data were collected in 2008-2010 and analyses conducted in 2011.

Results: Overall availability of healthy options and facilitation of healthy eating did not increase differentially in King County versus Multnomah County restaurants aside from the substantial increase in onsite nutrition information posting in King County restaurants required by the new regulation. Barriers to healthful eating decreased in King County relative to Multnomah County restaurants, particularly in food-oriented establishments. King County restaurants demonstrated modest increases in signage that promotes healthy eating, although the frequency of such promotion remained low, and the availability of reduced portions decreased in these restaurants. The healthfulness of children's menus improved modestly over time, but not differentially by county.

Conclusions: A restaurant nutrition-labeling regulation was accompanied by some, but not uniform, improvements in other aspects of restaurant environments in the regulated compared to the nonregulated county. Additional opportunities exist for improving the healthfulness of away-from-home eating beyond menu labeling.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Barriers to healthful eating before and soon after nutrition-labeling regulation and in King County WA Note: Data are for coffee- versus food-oriented King County WA and Multnomah County OR restaurants. Wave-1 data are before regulation; Wave-2 data are soon after regulation. Lessnegative (higher) BEH scores indicate fewer barriers to healthful eating (e.g., no signage/promotion of unhealthy or overeating. Appendix A (available online at www.ajpmonline.org) provides a complete list of NEMS-R BEH items); n=9 and n=11 for King and Multnomah County coffee establishments and n=40 and n=38 for King County and Multnomah County food establishments, respectively. BEH, NEMS-R Barriers to Healthful Eating scale; NEMS-R, Nutrition Environment Measures Surveys, restaurant version
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