A number of studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of calorie labeling on consumer food choices. In contrast, very little is known about whether and how restaurant menu offerings may change in response to calorie labeling. To address this knowledge gap, investigators assembled a dataset to examine trends in the nutritional quality of menu offerings at eight leading fast food restaurants between 1997 and 2010. This dataset has been analyzed to examine trends in the energy content and the overall nutritional quality of menu offerings. In addition, trends in the sodium and trans fatty acid content of menu offerings have been examined. This research project expanded the utility of this dataset by: 1) updating the dataset to include menu information for an additional two years (2011-2012) for the eight restaurant chains currently in the dataset (Arby’s, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Jack in the Box, KFC, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s), and 2) expanding the dataset to include an additional seven restaurant chains (Chick-fil-A, Church’s Chicken, Hardee’s, Long John Silver’s, Sonic, Taco John’s, and White Castle). Menu data from 2009-2012 was added to the dataset for these additional restaurants. In addition, using the assembled dataset the nutritional quality of menu offerings at McDonald’s pre and post that chain’s voluntary implementation of nationwide calorie labeling was examined.
Start Date: February 2013
ID #: CAS011
Organization: University of Minnesota
Project Lead: Lisa Harnack, DrPH, MPH, RD
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
Keywords: Fast food, Food formulation, Food outlet, Menu Labeling, Restaurant
Focus Area: Food Retail
Related Research
December 2022
Which Healthy Food Promotion Strategies Within Grocery Retail Settings Are Most Promising?
This review identifies intervention strategies implemented within U.S. grocery retail stores that are effective in improving the healthfulness of shoppers’ food and beverage purchasing and consumption. Results from our review demonstrate that nutritional scoring and nutritional messaging were the most rigorously tested and effective interventions. Additionally, simple interventions yield the most successful results and minimize MoreDecember 2022
Encouraging Healthier Food and Beverage Purchasing and Consumption: A Review of Interventions within Grocery Retail Settings
This review identifies the most promising intervention strategies for promoting the purchase and consumption of healthier items within U.S. grocery retail settings, with a particular focus on those strategies that may be most effective when implemented within SNAP-authorized retail settings. Searches of nine electronic databases, as well as forward and backward searches, yielded 1942 studies. MoreApril 2022