While at least one study of low-income consumers showed calorie counts on menus did little to influence purchases in restaurants, two other studies published on the website of the American Journal of Public Health suggest putting calories on the menu could play a significant role in helping address obesity in the U.S.
The most current research tracked patrons at fast-food establishments over a two-week period on the campus of Ohio State University. A total of 12 entrees on the menu were listed with calorie counts. The six items with the highest calories saw sales decrease. While a shift took place in menu items purchased, it did not affect total consumption. Once the test was over, sales of the 12 items reverted back to previous levels sans calories on the menu.
A second study of consumers in Los Angeles County found a correlation between calorie listings and purchases similar to that in the Ohio State research.
According to the study's abstract, "Assuming that 10 percent of the restaurant patrons would order reduced-calorie meals in response to calorie postings, resulting in an average reduction of 100 calories per meal, we estimated that menu labeling would avert 40.6 percent of the 6.75 million pound average annual weight gain in the county population aged five years and older."
A report by Nation's Restaurant News pointed out that not all studies have shown consumers making better nutritional choices with caloric information on menus. Research conducted on low-income consumers in New York found only 54 percent even noticed the information on menus and only 28 percent said it made a difference in what they ordered.
Discussion Questions: Will calories and other nutritional information listed on menus help to reduce obesity in the U.S.? Should retailers promoting healthier eating, such as supermarkets, take the initiative to include this information on menus even if not mandated by local or state governments?
- Study: calories do count - Nation's
Restaurant News
- Improving Patrons' Meal Selections Through the Use of Point-of-Selection Nutrition Labels (Abstract) - American Journal of Public Health
- Menu Labeling as a Potential Strategy for Combating the Obesity Epidemic: A Health Impact Assessment (Abstract) - American Journal of Public Health
- No big gains in the war on obesity, studies find - Nation's Restaurant News