Evaluation of the impact of calorie labeling on McDonald's restaurant menus: a natural experiment.
Calorie labeling
Menu labeling
Natural experiment
Nutrition policy
Obesity prevention
Journal
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity
ISSN: 1479-5868
Titre abrégé: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101217089
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 11 2019
04 11 2019
Historique:
received:
02
04
2019
accepted:
21
10
2019
entrez:
6
11
2019
pubmed:
7
11
2019
medline:
20
2
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The long-term effect of calorie labeling on fast-food purchases is unclear. McDonald's voluntarily labeled its menus with calories in 2012, providing an opportunity to evaluate this initiative on purchases. From 2010 to 2014, we collected receipts from and administered questionnaires to 2971 adults, 2164 adolescents, and 447 parents/guardians of school-age children during repeated visits to 82 restaurants, including McDonald's and five control chains that did not label menus over the study period in four New England cities. In 2018, we analyzed the data by using difference-in-differences analyses to estimate associations of calorie labeling with calories purchased (actual and estimated) and predicted probability of noticing calorie information on menus. Calorie labeling at McDonald's was not associated with changes in calories purchased in adults (change = - 19 cal pre- vs. post-labeling at McDonald's compared to control chains, 95% CI: - 112, 75), adolescents (change = - 49 cal, 95% CI: - 136, 38), or children (change = 13 cal, 95% CI: - 108, 135). Calorie labeling generally increased the predicted probability of noticing calorie information, but did not improve estimation of calories purchased. Calorie labeling at McDonald's was not associated with changes in calories purchased in adults, adolescents, or children. Although participants were more likely to notice calories on menus post-labeling, there was no improvement in ability to accurately estimate calories purchased.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The long-term effect of calorie labeling on fast-food purchases is unclear. McDonald's voluntarily labeled its menus with calories in 2012, providing an opportunity to evaluate this initiative on purchases.
METHODS
From 2010 to 2014, we collected receipts from and administered questionnaires to 2971 adults, 2164 adolescents, and 447 parents/guardians of school-age children during repeated visits to 82 restaurants, including McDonald's and five control chains that did not label menus over the study period in four New England cities. In 2018, we analyzed the data by using difference-in-differences analyses to estimate associations of calorie labeling with calories purchased (actual and estimated) and predicted probability of noticing calorie information on menus.
RESULTS
Calorie labeling at McDonald's was not associated with changes in calories purchased in adults (change = - 19 cal pre- vs. post-labeling at McDonald's compared to control chains, 95% CI: - 112, 75), adolescents (change = - 49 cal, 95% CI: - 136, 38), or children (change = 13 cal, 95% CI: - 108, 135). Calorie labeling generally increased the predicted probability of noticing calorie information, but did not improve estimation of calories purchased.
CONCLUSIONS
Calorie labeling at McDonald's was not associated with changes in calories purchased in adults, adolescents, or children. Although participants were more likely to notice calories on menus post-labeling, there was no improvement in ability to accurately estimate calories purchased.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31684961
doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0865-7
pii: 10.1186/s12966-019-0865-7
pmc: PMC6829981
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
99Subventions
Organisme : NHLBI NIH HHS
ID : K23 HL111211
Pays : United States
Organisme : NHLBI NIH HHS
ID : T32HL098048
Pays : United States
Organisme : NHLBI NIH HHS
ID : K23HL111211
Pays : United States
Références
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 Nov;21(11):2172-9
pubmed: 24136905
Health Aff (Millwood). 2013 Mar;32(3):486-96
pubmed: 23459727
Health Aff (Millwood). 2014 Jun;33(6):1032-9
pubmed: 24889953
J Clin Epidemiol. 2010 Jan;63(1):2-6
pubmed: 19230611
Front Public Health. 2015 Apr 15;3:51
pubmed: 25932459
Am J Public Health. 2006 Sep;96(9):1669-75
pubmed: 16873758
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016 Jul;116(7):1127-35
pubmed: 26875022
Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Nov-Dec;28(6):w1110-21
pubmed: 19808705
J Nutr. 2019 Jun 1;149(6):1065-1074
pubmed: 31049577
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012 Aug;112(8):1169-76
pubmed: 22704898
N Engl J Med. 2017 Oct 5;377(14):1391-1398
pubmed: 28976864
Am J Public Health. 2009 Nov;99(11):2001-5
pubmed: 19762664
Int J Obes (Lond). 2011 Apr;35(4):493-500
pubmed: 21326209
Am J Prev Med. 2011 Oct;41(4):434-8
pubmed: 21961472
Appetite. 2013 Mar;62:198-202
pubmed: 22664301
Am J Prev Med. 2011 Feb;40(2):122-7
pubmed: 21238859
Health Aff (Millwood). 2015 Nov;34(11):1932-9
pubmed: 26526252
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014 Nov;22(11):2277-83
pubmed: 25376394
BMJ. 2013 May 23;346:f2907
pubmed: 23704170
BMJ. 2011 Jul 26;343:d4464
pubmed: 21791497
Am J Public Health. 2015 Mar;105(3):546-53
pubmed: 25602868
Obes Rev. 2016 Mar;17(3):201-10
pubmed: 26693944
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014 Jul 11;63(27):581-4
pubmed: 25006823
J Am Heart Assoc. 2017 Sep 22;6(9):null
pubmed: 28939713
J Public Health (Oxf). 2014 Sep;36(3):490-6
pubmed: 24263224
Appetite. 2018 Sep 1;128:223-232
pubmed: 29894697
Annu Rev Public Health. 2018 Apr 1;39:453-469
pubmed: 29328877
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017 Dec;25(12):2018-2044
pubmed: 29045080
Natl Health Stat Report. 2013 Feb 11;(63):1-3
pubmed: 24992748
Am J Public Health. 2016 Jul;106(7):1254-5
pubmed: 27196648
Am J Public Health. 2010 Feb;100(2):312-8
pubmed: 20019307
Fed Regist. 2014 Dec 1;79(230):71155-259
pubmed: 25438344
Am J Health Behav. 2015 Jul;39(4):540-8
pubmed: 26018102
Health Aff (Millwood). 2015 Nov;34(11):1893-900
pubmed: 26526247
Curr Diab Rep. 2013 Dec;13(6):814-23
pubmed: 24037313
Curr Obes Rep. 2014 Sep;3(3):368-75
pubmed: 26626769
Obes Rev. 2017 Jul;18(7):715-723
pubmed: 28489290
Am J Epidemiol. 2019 Jan 1;188(1):57-66
pubmed: 30165561
N Engl J Med. 2018 Jul 12;379(2):103-105
pubmed: 29791255
Ann Intern Med. 2006 Sep 5;145(5):326-32
pubmed: 16954358
J Public Health (Oxf). 2013 Sep;35(3):354-60
pubmed: 23697388
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014 Jul 12;11:91
pubmed: 25015547
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013 Feb 08;10:21
pubmed: 23394433
Am J Prev Med. 2013 Dec;45(6):710-9
pubmed: 24237912