Are Calorie Totals On Menus Effective?
A small survey by Self magazine a few months ago suggested that many women are adjusting their habits due to the new information, with 55% claiming to order less food. Two new studies, however, have not had such positive results.
One study of 1,156 people, Calorie Labeling And Food Choices: A First Look At The Effects On Low-Income People In New York City, published in the journal Health Affairs, concluded that low-income NYC residents weren't making any dietary changes as a result of the new information:
We found that 27.7 percent who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices. However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling.
The second study, by New York City's health officials and reported on in the New York Times, compared 10,965 purchases in spring 2007 (prior to the new law) with 12,153 purchases made in spring 2009. They, too, found that the number of calories purchased at most chain restaurants showed little change - but that the calories consumed in coffee shops declined. Only 56% of people said they even noticed the calorie information.
These two studies, and the Self survey, highlight several issues:
- Those on low-incomes (who are most at risk of obesity) will buy primarily on price, favoring cheaper options over more calorific ones.
- Some customers will simply not notice, or take into account, calorie information
- However, those who are conscious of health and diet issues seem to find this information helpful - Self magazine is all about "fitness, nutrition, health and beauty advice"
So is the scheme a success or a failure? If you live in NYC, has the calorie information on menus affected your choices? Is this something you'd find helpful on menus in your own city?
I deffinitely think that putting calorie info on products would influence on the purchase of it .
ReplyThey forced people to do things against their will -- changing menus in this case -- and didn't get the result they wanted.
Time to force even more people to do even more things against their will I guess. Why not? Since when are people supposed to have any choice on what they do or how they live their lives?
Replylol...you're an idiot!!
ReplyWhat does your comment have to do with whether or not posting nutritional information is helpful to others or a waste of time.
ReplyI don't know why you are asking for opinions on whether this is a success or failure - the proof is in the pudding or in this case in the findings of the reports. I guess you could say it is a success for those who are health concious and would read/use the information - for others it is obviously not their primary concern.
Publishing calorific counts is not a magic bullet to solving obesity - there is no such thing. It's a good tactic, but it needs to be part of a much larger cultural and even economic change.
ReplyThe more information you have the better decisions you can make. If some people ignore the information that's fine! Though I know many people including myself who would love it.
ReplyI am with you Kellie. Here in CA, larger chains have to put all the nutritionals on the menu & the calorie count & sodium levels are outrageous on many items! I knew they were high but I was even surprised by some of them & I pointed them out to the hubby who does not eat as clean as I do... If people choose to ignore, it is their health prob but I like the info there. I can also be more informed to help my hubby make his choices since he wants to enjoy but NOT have 2 days worth of calories & sodium in one meal!
ReplyPutting the calorie count on menus is sort of like putting price tags on things...it lets you know in advance how much you'll be "spending" before you order your food. So in that sense, I agree with putting them on menus...at least it informs people that they're about to order a 1000 calorie burger. It doesn't mean they won't order it though. People who are way more concerned about the price of food will probably be looking at that more than the calorie counts because to them, money is more important than food being healthy.
Replyi live in NYC, and i LOVE the calorie counts. i wish all food vendors were required to post them, not just chain establishments (as is the case under the current laws). the calorie counts have influenced my choices but one can say that's because i was calorie-conscious in the first place.
the calorie counts may not stop someone who wants a greasy, fattening meal. i'm sure many people willfully ignore them. i've read in various NY Times articles that the counts take the "fun" out of eating.
this all may be true, but i'm a champion of the calorie counts because i believe in fair access to information. a person can still get their 900 calorie burger, but then if they gain weight through consuming too many of them, they have no one to blame but themselves - they can't turn around and say they didn't know their burger had 900 calories. the counts are a way for people to take responsibility of what they put in their mouths.
ReplyI don't know about you, but I feel more confident eating at a place that provides nutritional information in the menu...
And besides, many restaurants profit from this. Often, the foods with less calories are the most expensive on the menu. So if consumers are health conscious,then restaurants profit.
ReplyI think its a great idea! I wish they did that in my city.
ReplyI'm worried that maybe this will exacerbate many individual's disordered eating habits or eating disorders.
My approach to life is to make healthy food the basis of my diet, the food that I offically live off of....so that when it is time for that special dinner out I can have what I want. So I would pay attention to menu information, but only when it is not an "off day" for me.
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