Calorie changes in chain restaurant menu items: implications for obesity and evaluations of menu labeling

Abstract

Background: Supply-side reductions to the calories in chain restaurants are a possible benefit of upcoming menu labeling requirements.

Purpose: To describe trends in calories available in large U.S. restaurants.

Methods: Data were obtained from the MenuStat project, a census of menu items in 66 of the 100 largest U.S. restaurant chains, for 2012 and 2013 (N=19,417 items). Generalized linear models were used to calculate (1) the mean change in calories from 2012 to 2013, among items on the menu in both years; and (2) the difference in mean calories, comparing newly introduced items to those on the menu in 2012 only (overall and between core versus non-core items). Data were analyzed in 2014.

Results: Mean calories among items on menus in both 2012 and 2013 did not change. Large restaurant chains in the U.S. have recently had overall declines in calories in newly introduced menu items (-56 calories, 12% decline). These declines were concentrated mainly in new main course items (-67 calories, 10% decline). New beverage (-26 calories, 8% decline) and children's (-46 calories, 20% decline) items also had fewer mean calories. Among chain restaurants with a specific focus (e.g., burgers), average calories in new menu items not core to the business declined more than calories in core menu items.

Conclusions: Large chain restaurants significantly reduced the number of calories in newly introduced menu items. Supply-side changes to the calories in chain restaurants may have a significant impact on obesity prevention.

Figure 1

Proportion of newly introduced menu items in 2013 that had caloric content greater than, similar to, or less than that of menu items in 2012, overall and stratified by menu category Notes: Histograms showing the distribution of the proportions of newly introduced menu items in 2013 whose caloric content was greater, similar to, or lower than that of menu items offered in 2012, in 66 large chain U.S. restaurants. All analyses exclude beverages.

Figure 2

Predicted mean per-item calories among new menu items in 2013 versus items offered in 2012, comparing core to non-core items in restaurants with a specific menu focus Notes: Histograms of predicted mean per-item calories among newly introduced menu items in 2013 versus that of menu items offered in 2012, comparing core to non-core items in restaurants with a specific menu focus in the 30 restaurants with a specific focus. Core items in burger restaurants include only burgers (n=77), and non-core items include all else (n=1,381). Core items in pizza restaurants include only pizzas (n=209), and non-core items include all else (n=120). Core items in chicken restaurants include only chicken items (n=27), and non-core items include all else (n=89). Core items in sandwich restaurants include only sandwiches (n=642), and non-core items include all else (n=384). Predicted mean per-item calories are from generalized linear models adjusting for children’s menu item status, whether a restaurant chain is national, and restaurant type (fast food, full service, fast casual). * Difference in calories between old and new items in core vs. non-core items is significant at p<0.05.