Background/Purpose According to the Rudd Center (2008), two-thirds of Americans polled support requiring restaurants to provide nutrition and calorie information on menus. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of calorie menu labeling on food selection and total calorie intake.
Method An online survey using surveymonkey.com was presented to participants using two similar menus one calorie-labeled, one not. Participants were asked to order a meal from each menu according to what they would choose and how much of each plate they would eat. Information on activity and other eating habits were also obtained. Frequency counts and a paired samples t-test were used.
Analysis/Results A non-probability sample of 160 participants was obtained. Sixty eight percent were female between 18-60 years of age. The mean number of calories ordered with Menu 1 was 1473 and with Menu 2, 1354. The results of the t test showed a significant difference in the total number of calories ordered between Menu 1 and 2 (t = 2.942, p = 0.004). Sixty three percent ate out 1-3 times per week. Ninety six percent identified the RDA intake of 1500-2500 calories per day, but often ordered this amount for one meal.
Conclusions The results showed that participants ordered fewer calories from the calorie-labeled menu. However, the amount ordered is near the total amount of calories needed per day. It is questionable that if the study was conducted in “real time” would participants order or consume as much as they did in the online format.
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