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. 2020 Feb 10;15(2):e0228891.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228891. eCollection 2020.

Calorie and nutrient trends in large U.S. chain restaurants, 2012-2018

Sara N Bleich  1 , Mark J Soto  1 , Caroline Glagola Dunn  1 , Alyssa J Moran  2 , Jason P Block  3
Affiliations

Calorie and nutrient trends in large U.S. chain restaurants, 2012-2018

Sara N Bleich et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: Large chain restaurants reduced calories in their newly-introduced menu items from 2012 to 2015. The objective of this study was to provide updated calorie trends through 2018 and examine trends in the macronutrient composition of menu items across this time period.

Methods and findings: Data were obtained from the MenuStat project and include 66 of the 100 largest revenue generating U.S. chain restaurants (N = 28,238 items) that had data available in all years from 2012 to 2018. Generalized linear models were used to examine per-item calorie and nutrient changes (saturated fat, trans fat, unsaturated fat, sugar, non-sugar carbohydrates, protein, sodium) among (1) items on the menu in all years (common items) and (2) newly introduced items (2013-2018). Overall, there were no significant changes in calories or nutrients among common items from 2012 to 2018. Among all newly introduced items, calories (-120 kcals, -25%, p = 0.01; p-for-trend = 0.02), saturated fat (-3.4g, -41%, p<0.01, p-for-trend = 0.06), unsaturated fat (-4.5g, -37%, p = 0.02; p-for-trend = 0.04), non-sugar carbohydrates (-10.3g, -40%, p = 0.02, p-for-trend = 0.69), and protein (-4.3g, -25%, p = 0.04, p-for-trend = 0.02) declined.

Conclusion: Newly introduced menu items in large chain restaurants have continued to decline in calories through 2018, which may help to reduce calorie intake. Other changes in macronutrient content were sporadic and not clearly toward improved dietary quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

Caroline Dunn owns stock over a value of $5,000 in Beyond Meat, Inc. The other authors have declared that no competing interests exist. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Predicted per-item means for common and newly introduced items, 2012–2018.
All estimates are adjusted for restaurant type, whether the restaurant is a national chain, the year the restaurant began labeling their menus with calories, and whether the item is categorized as a kid’s item, shareable, regional or offered for a limited time. Estimates for common items included item fixed effects. *The estimate for the trend from 2013 to 2018 is significant at p<0.05. †The estimate for the change from 2013 to 2018 is significant at p<0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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