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

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.

[1]  D. Fleming,et al.  Menu labeling regulations and calories purchased at chain restaurants. , 2013, American journal of preventive medicine.

[2]  V. Brescoll,et al.  Calorie labeling and food choices: a first look at the effects on low-income people in New York City. , 2009, Health affairs.

[3]  Tod Mijanovich,et al.  Calorie Labeling, Fast Food Purchasing and Restaurant Visits , 2013, Obesity.

[4]  Henry Agnew,et al.  Evaluating the Impact of Menu Labeling on Food Choices and Intake , 2022 .

[5]  R. Nayga.  Nutrition Knowledge, Gender, and Food Label Use , 2000 .

[6]  Tamara Dumanovsky,et al.  Consumer awareness of fast-food calorie information in New York City after implementation of a menu labeling regulation. , 2010, American journal of public health.

[7]  Andreas C. Drichoutis,et al.  Nutrition knowledge and consumer use of nutritional food labels , 2005 .

[8]  M. Roseman,et al.  Relationships among grocery nutrition label users and consumers’ attitudes and behavior toward restaurant menu labeling , 2013, Appetite.

[9]  James Krieger,et al.  Mandatory menu labeling in one fast-food chain in King County, Washington. , 2011, American journal of preventive medicine.

[10]  George Loewenstein,et al.  Confronting reality: pitfalls of calorie posting. , 2011, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[11]  Tamara Dumanovsky,et al.  Changes in energy content of lunchtime purchases from fast food restaurants after introduction of calorie labelling: cross sectional customer surveys , 2011, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[12]  Lynn Stockley,et al.  Consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling: a systematic review , 2005, Public Health Nutrition.

[13]  Klaus G. Grunert,et al.  Use and understanding of nutrition information on food labels in six European countries , 2010, Journal of Public Health.

[14]  A. Auchincloss,et al.  Barriers and facilitators of consumer use of nutrition labels at sit-down restaurant chains , 2013, Public Health Nutrition.