Influence of menu labeling on food choices in real-life settings: a systematic review

Fernandes, Ana Carolina; Oliveira, Renata Carvalho de; Proença, Rossana P. C.; Curioni, Cíntia Chaves; Rodrigues, Vanessa Mello; Fiates, Giovanna Medeiros Rataichesck

doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuw013

Cited by 94 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…To our knowledge no studies have investigated the effect of simple labels as a strategy to get customers to change their food choices toward more eco-friendly options in a cafeteria. However, we have identified six reviews that have studied how labels and signs can influence consumers in cafeterias to eat healthier (Swartz et al, 2011;Hersey et al, 2013;Kiszko et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014;Long et al, 2015;Fernandes et al, 2016). All reviews concluded that there is minimum evidence that supports the use of calorie labeling in cafeterias (Swartz et al, 2011;Kiszko et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014;Long et al, 2015;Fernandes et al, 2016).…”

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, we have identified six reviews that have studied how labels and signs can influence consumers in cafeterias to eat healthier (Swartz et al, 2011;Hersey et al, 2013;Kiszko et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014;Long et al, 2015;Fernandes et al, 2016). All reviews concluded that there is minimum evidence that supports the use of calorie labeling in cafeterias (Swartz et al, 2011;Kiszko et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014;Long et al, 2015;Fernandes et al, 2016). The authors explained that the reason may be that detailed calorie labels only work on certain groups as women and health-conscious consumers (Swartz et al, 2011;Kiszko et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014;Long et al, 2015).…”

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors explained that the reason may be that detailed calorie labels only work on certain groups as women and health-conscious consumers (Swartz et al, 2011;Kiszko et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014;Long et al, 2015). Two of the reviews argued that simple labels as traffic-light labels or labels that identify the best option attract more attention than detailed labels (Hersey et al, 2013;Fernandes et al, 2016). Therefore, simple labels may be more effective than numeric and detailed labels (Hersey et al, 2013;Fernandes et al, 2016).…”

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two of the reviews argued that simple labels as traffic-light labels or labels that identify the best option attract more attention than detailed labels (Hersey et al, 2013;Fernandes et al, 2016). Therefore, simple labels may be more effective than numeric and detailed labels (Hersey et al, 2013;Fernandes et al, 2016).…”

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simple Eco-Labels to Nudge Customers Toward the Most Environmentally Friendly Warm Dishes: An Empirical Study in a Cafeteria Setting

Slapø

Karevold²

2019

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Background: Food production and consumption contributes to one third of households' environmental impact. The environmental impact of different food categories varies and in general environmental footprint of meat is high than fish and vegetable options. Environmental food labels have been suggested as a means to sway consumption patterns. The purpose of this study is to test if different simple eco-labels in combination with posters can influence consumers to select environmentally friendly food options. Method:Three different labeling systems were tested on warm dishes in a University cafeteria in Oslo, Norway. The first system was traffic-light labels with three symbols (red, yellow and green), the second system was a single-green label that only labeled the environmentally friendliest dishes, and the third system was a single-red label that only labeled the least environmentally friendly option. Posters were placed in the cafeteria, explaining the labeling systems and the climate impact of different food categories. Outcome measures was sales share of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. The intervention period was separated in two; the first 20 days (period 1) and 22 last days (period 2) to evaluate if the effects of the labels was different when first introduced and after some months. Results:The traffic-light labels significantly reduced sales of meat dishes with 9% in the period 1 (p < 0.1) but not in period 2. Sales share of fish or vegetarian dishes were not impacted. Single-green and single-red labeling had no effect on sales share of meat, fish or vegetarian dishes. Posters were present during all interventions.Conclusion: Findings suggests that traffic-light labels in combination with posters can improve the eco-friendliness of customers food choices in a cafeteria setting, at least short-term. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of simple eco-labels. Additionally, one should study the combined effect of symbols with other changes in the choice architecture.

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Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eco-labeling To Change Food Choices In a Cafeteria Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Simple Eco-Labels to Nudge Customers Toward the Most Environmentally Friendly Warm Dishes: An Empirical Study in a Cafeteria Setting

Slapø

Karevold²

2019

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…This paper synthesizes the evidence on the effectiveness of menu labeling. Although we identified nine prior menu labeling reviews (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), we extend this research by reviewing the following: (1) newer studies; (2) research across restaurant, cafeteria, and laboratory settings; (3) studies comparing responses to calorie information (e.g., 400 calories) relative to modified calorie information or nutrition symbols (e.g., traffic light labels); and (4) studies of menu offerings following local menu labeling regulations and in advance of national regulations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of Calorie Labeling and Modified Calorie Labeling Interventions: Impact on Consumer and Restaurant Behavior

Bleich

Economos

Spiker

et al. 2017

Obesity

165

142

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Background Evidence on the effects of restaurant calorie labeling on consumer and restaurant behavior is mixed. This paper examined: 1) consumer responses to calorie information alone or compared to modified calorie information, and 2) changes in restaurant offerings following or in advance of menu labeling implementation. Methods We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Policy File and PAIS International to identify restaurant calorie labeling studies through October 1, 2016, that measured calories ordered, consumed, or available for purchase on restaurant menus. We also searched reference lists of calorie labeling articles. Results Fifty-three studies were included: 18 in real-world restaurants, 9 in cafeterias, and 21 in laboratory or simulation settings. Five examined restaurant offerings. Conclusion Due to a lack of well-powered studies with strong designs, the degree to which menu labeling encourages lower calorie purchases and whether that translates to a healthier population is unclear. Although there is limited evidence that menu labeling affects calories purchased at fast-food restaurants, some evidence demonstrates that it lowers calories purchased at certain types of restaurants and in cafeteria settings. The limited data on modified calorie labels find that such labels can encourage lower-calorie purchases, but may not differ in effects relative to calorie labels alone.

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Environmental interventions to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and their effects on health

Philipsborn

Stratil

Burns

et al. 2019

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

171

136

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BackgroundFrequent consumption of excess amounts of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSB) is a risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dental caries. Environmental interventions, i.e. interventions that alter the physical or social environment in which individuals make beverage choices, have been advocated as a means to reduce the consumption of SSB.ObjectivesTo assess the effects of environmental interventions (excluding taxation) on the consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages and sugar‐sweetened milk, diet‐related anthropometric measures and health outcomes, and on any reported unintended consequences or adverse outcomes.Search methodsWe searched 11 general, specialist and regional databases from inception to 24 January 2018. We also searched trial registers, reference lists and citations, scanned websites of relevant organisations, and contacted study authors.Selection criteriaWe included studies on interventions implemented at an environmental level, reporting effects on direct or indirect measures of SSB intake, diet‐related anthropometric measures and health outcomes, or any reported adverse outcome. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non‐randomised controlled trials (NRCTs), controlled before‐after (CBA) and interrupted‐time‐series (ITS) studies, implemented in real‐world settings with a combined length of intervention and follow‐up of at least 12 weeks and at least 20 individuals in each of the intervention and control groups. We excluded studies in which participants were administered SSB as part of clinical trials, and multicomponent interventions which did not report SSB‐specific outcome data. We excluded studies on the taxation of SSB, as these are the subject of a separate Cochrane Review.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently screened studies for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the risks of bias of included studies. We classified interventions according to the NOURISHING framework, and synthesised results narratively and conducted meta‐analyses for two outcomes relating to two intervention types. We assessed our confidence in the certainty of effect estimates with the GRADE framework as very low, low, moderate or high, and presented ‘Summary of findings’ tables.Main resultsWe identified 14,488 unique records, and assessed 1030 in full text for eligibility. We found 58 studies meeting our inclusion criteria, including 22 RCTs, 3 NRCTs, 14 CBA studies, and 19 ITS studies, with a total of 1,180,096 participants. The median length of follow‐up was 10 months. The studies included children, teenagers and adults, and were implemented in a variety of settings, including schools, retailing and food service establishments. We judged most studies to be at high or unclear risk of bias in at least one domain, and most studies used non‐randomised designs. The studies examine a broad range of interventions, and we present results for these separately.Labelling interventions (8 studies): We found moderate‐certainty evidence that traffic‐light labelli...

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Influence of menu labeling on food choices in real-life settings: a systematic review

Abstract: Calorie labeling in menus is not effective to promote healthier food choices. Further research in real-life settings with control groups should test diverse qualitative information in menu labeling.

Cited by 94 publications

References 71 publications

Simple Eco-Labels to Nudge Customers Toward the Most Environmentally Friendly Warm Dishes: An Empirical Study in a Cafeteria Setting

Simple Eco-Labels to Nudge Customers Toward the Most Environmentally Friendly Warm Dishes: An Empirical Study in a Cafeteria Setting

A Systematic Review of Calorie Labeling and Modified Calorie Labeling Interventions: Impact on Consumer and Restaurant Behavior

Environmental interventions to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and their effects on health

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