Exploratory Analysis of Fast-Food Chain Restaurant Menus Before and After Implementation of Local Calorie-Labeling Policies, 2005–2011

Abstract

IntroductionSince 2008, several states and municipalities have implemented regulations requiring provision of nutrition information at chain restaurants to address obesity. Although early research into the effect of such labels on consumer decisions has shown mixed results, little information exists on the restaurant industry’s response to labeling. The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate the effect of menu labeling on fast-food menu offerings over 7 years, from 2005 through 2011.MethodsMenus from 5 fast-food chains that had outlets in jurisdictions subject to menu-labeling laws (cases) were compared with menus from 4 fast-food chains operating in jurisdictions not requiring labeling (controls). A trend analysis assessed whether case restaurants improved the healthfulness of their menus relative to the control restaurants.ResultsAlthough the overall prevalence of “healthier” food options remained low, a noteworthy increase was seen after 2008 in locations with menu-labeling laws relative to those without such laws. Healthier food options increased from 13% to 20% at case locations while remaining static at 8% at control locations (test for difference in the trend, P = .02). Since 2005, the average calories for an à la carte entrée remained moderately high (approximately 450 kilocalories), with less than 25% of all entrées and sides qualifying as healthier and no clear systematic differences in the trend between chain restaurants in case versus control areas (P ≥ .50).ConclusionThese findings suggest that menu labeling has thus far not affected the average nutritional content of fast-food menu items, but it may motivate restaurants to increase the availability of healthier options.

Identifying the Effects of Environmental and Policy Change Interventions on Healthy Eating

“…Restaurants may be responsive to modifying menus in response to consumer demand for more information. Some studies have found that healthy menu options increased after menu-labeling enactment (12, 64), although none noted a difference in the overall menu caloric content (11, 16, 72). Beyond labeling, implementation of nutritional standards for restaurants has also been proposed (28).…”

Concerning Limitations of Food-Environment Research: A Narrative Review and Commentary Framed around Obesity and Diet-Related Diseases in Youth

“…Studies at larger scales may benefit from remoteassessment methods, for instance using Internet menus, circulars, or other business advertisements (particularly for chain stores and restaurants that have consistent offerings across sites). [84][85][86] If actual assessments are not possible, studies should again include sensitivity analyses (eg, *Select list of 35 published studies available from the author upon request.…”

Disclosure: Psychology Changes Everything

“…9 But in a study that provides evidence suggestive of a telltale heart effect, Namba et al (2013) combed an archive of publicly accessible web pages for changes in posted menu offerings at fast food restaurants between 2005 and 2011, a period during which several municipalities introduced calorie posting. Menus from 5 fast-food chains with outlets in areas subject to menu-labeling laws were compared with menus from 4 chains operating in areas not requiring labeling.…”