Start Date: January 2010

ID #: 67291

Principal Investigator: James Krieger, MD, MPH

Co-Principal Investigator: Brian Saelens, PhD

Organization: Seattle-King County Department of Public Health

Funding Round: Rapid-Response Round 2

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The impact of menu labeling is unclear. A menu labeling law (beginning 1/1/09) in Seattle-King County, WA provides an opportunity to evaluate policy effectiveness. The Seattle-King County policy is different from regulations elsewhere in two important ways. First, not only do restaurants need to have calorie labels, they have to provide information on saturated fat, sodium and carbohydrates as well. Second, restaurants have choices about how to display nutrition information. Specifically, calories may be on menus/menu boards or displayed by other means, such as posters that customers will see while waiting in line, while other nutrition information may be displayed elsewhere, such as on a pamphlet at the point of purchase. This research team has already collected fall 2008 (pre) and spring 2009 (near post) data. This new project will collect data 1.5 years post-implementation in spring 2010 to assess long-term impact of the menu labeling policy on the percent of the population that is aware of nutrition labels, the nutrient composition of purchased meals and the number of healthier items on menus. This project will be the longest follow-up on menu labeling to date. Data sources will include point of purchase receipts and customer survey, population survey (BRFSS), restaurant nutrition environment, restaurant inspection and menu audits in both Seattle-King County and San Diego, CA (a comparison county without the regulation).

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