Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Oct:81:30-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2014.05.027. Epub 2014 May 29.

Who reports noticing and using calorie information posted on fast food restaurant menus?

Andrew Breck  1 , Jonathan Cantor  1 , Olivia Martinez  2 , Brian Elbel  3
Affiliations

Who reports noticing and using calorie information posted on fast food restaurant menus?

Andrew Breck et al. Appetite. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: Identify consumer characteristics that predict seeing and using calorie information on fast food menu boards.

Methods: Two separate data collection methods were used in Philadelphia during June 2010, several weeks after calorie labeling legislation went into effect: (1) point-of-purchase survey and receipt collection conducted outside fast food restaurants (N = 669) and (2) a random digit dial telephone survey (N = 702). Logistic regressions were used to predict the odds of reporting seeing, and of reporting seeing and being influenced by posted calorie information.

Results: Approximately 35.1% of point-of-purchase and 65.7% of telephone survey respondents reported seeing posted calorie information, 11.8% and 41.7%, respectively, reported that the labels influenced their purchasing decisions, and 8.4% and 17% reported they were influenced in a healthful direction. BMI, education, income, gender, consumer preferences, restaurant chain, and frequency of visiting fast food restaurants were associated with heterogeneity in the likelihood of reporting seeing and reporting seeing and using calorie labels.

Conclusion: Demographic characteristics and consumer preferences are important determinants in the use of posted calorie information. Future work should consider the types of consumers this information is intended for, and how to effectively reach them.

Keywords: Calorie labeling; Obesity; Public policy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflicts of interest

References

    1. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Notice of Intention to Repeal and Reenact Sec. 81.50 of the New York City Health Code. New York (NY): Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; 2007.
    1. Public Law 111–148 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Section 4205: Nutrition labeling of standard menu items at chain restaurants. 2010 Available online at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW-111publ148.pdf.
    1. Loewenstein G. Confronting reality: pitfalls of calorie posting. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93:679–80. - PubMed
    1. Finkelstein EA, Strombotne KL, Chan NL, Krieger J. Mandatory menu labeling in one fast-food chain in King County, Washington. Am J Prev Med. 2011;40(2):122–7. - PubMed
    1. Elbel B, Kersh R, Brescoll BL, Dixon LB. Calorie labeling and food choices: a first look at the effects on low-income people in New York City. Health Aff. 2009;28:w1110–w1121. - PubMed

Publication types