Evaluating the Impact of Point-of-Purchase Nutrition Information at Chain Restaurants

Start Date: October 2008

ID #: 65233

Principal Investigator: James Krieger, MD, MPH

Co-Principal Investigator: Brian Saelens, PhD

Organization: Seattle-King County Department of Public Health

Funding Round: Round 3

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In March 2008, the King County Board of Health approved the second restaurant nutrition information regulation in the nation, requiring chain restaurants to provide information on calories, saturated fats, carbohydrates, and sodium on menus and calories on menu boards by January 1, 2009, and allowing for specified methods “equivalent” to menu board or menu labels. The regulation provides the opportunity to evaluate a replicable healthy eating policy through a natural experiment. Thus, the primary aim of this project is to assess the impact of point-of-purchase nutrition information at chain restaurants on awareness of nutrition information, nutrition knowledge, use of nutrition information, and food choices of customers. Secondary aims include (1) examining differences in outcomes by demographic characteristics, neighborhood characteristics, method of providing nutrition information, and type of restaurant, and (2) assessing changes in nutritional values of menu items.

Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Adults and Families, Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)

States: California, Washington

Keywords: Fast food, Food outlet, Menu Labeling, Neighborhood, Point-of-decision prompts, Restaurant

Focus Area: Food Retail

Resource Type: Grant Summary

Race/Ethnicity: Multi-racial/ethnic

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