Menu Labeling Increases Awareness and Calorie Use Information in Seattle
Skip to main content
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Our Vision
    • Our Vision Overview
    • Why Health Equity
    • Focus Areas
    • Measuring RWJF Progress
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Active Funding Opportunities
    • Awarded Grants
    • Grantee Stories
    • Grant Process
    • Grantee Resources
  • Insights
    • Insights Overview
    • Blog
    • Our Research
    • Advocacy And Policy
  • About RWJF
    • About RWJF Overview
    • Our Guiding Principles
    • How We Work
    • Impact Investments
    • Staff And Trustees
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
Find A Grant

    Menu Labeling Increases Awareness and Calorie Use Information in Seattle

    Jan-20-2015 | 3-min read
    1. About RWJF
    2. Newsroom
    3. Menu Labeling Increases Awareness and Calorie Use Information in Seattle

    Princeton, NJ — A new study finds that the percentage of adults in the Seattle area who saw and used calorie information tripled after a menu-labeling policy went into effect for chain restaurants, and that the results were sustained up to 24 months. These findings come less than two months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced rules requiring calorie information be posted on menus in chain restaurants and other retail food venues nationwide. The study was published online today by the American Journal of Public Health.

    King County, Wash., which includes Seattle, implemented a menu-labeling policy at the beginning of 2009. Some restaurant chains already had begun to voluntarily display calorie information before then. Survey results show that in mid-2008, 8.1 percent of residents saw and used the voluntarily posted calorie information. By the end of 2010, 24.8 percent were seeing and using the required information. This study’s follow-up period post-policy implementation is the longest of any study to date. The most dramatic increase in awareness and use of calorie information occurred over the course of the first year of implementation and the growth was maintained throughout the second year. However, it took a full year after implementation to see the complete effects of the labeling changes. The study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through its Healthy Eating Research program.

    Customer awareness and usage of calorie information increased across all demographics, but there were some differences among the subgroups of survey respondents. White, higher-income, and obese consumers were more likely to see the calorie information; and women, higher-income respondents, and customers who ate at fast-food vs. sit-down chain restaurants were more likely to use this information.

    “Menu labeling can impact consumer behavior. Posting calorie counts increases the percentage of people who see and use that information,” said Roxana Chen, social research scientist, Public Health - Seattle & King County and lead study author. “The next step is to ensure that all populations are equally aware of and able to use this information.”

    The study relied on data from the 2008-2010 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. From these data, 3,132 King County adult residents who reported eating at a chain restaurant regulated by the menu-labeling policy comprised the study population. Researchers measured awareness (i.e., seeing calorie information) and usage (i.e., using calorie information to inform menu selection) over a period of more than two years, from 8 months before the policy implementation to 24 months afterwards.

    This study builds on the results of a related study, also funded by RWJF, that was published in 2013. In the earlier work, the researchers examined the impact of King County’s menu-labeling policy on calories purchased from a select group of chain restaurants, and they found that adults and teens who used the menu-labeling information purchased up to 143 fewer calories than customers who did not see or use the calorie information.

    King County was the second jurisdiction in the nation—after New York City—to implement a menu-labeling law. The King County policy covered any food establishment with 15 or more locations nationwide. The two menu-labeling rules recently finalized by the FDA will apply to a variety of retail food venues with 20 or more locations nationwide, including sit-down and fast-food restaurants, vending machines, convenience stores and movie theaters. 

    About Healthy Eating Research

    Healthy Eating Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The program supports research on environmental and policy strategies with strong potential to promote healthy eating among children to prevent obesity, especially among lower-income and racial and ethnic populations at highest risk for obesity. For more information, visit www.healthyeatingresearch.org.

    About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

    For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.

    Subscribe to receive Funding Alerts & more

    Explore the latest in reflection and research from subject matter experts at RWJF and our wide network of partners.

    Email address already subscribed. Please check your inbox to manage your subscriptions.

    Subscribed!

    Thank you. You are now subscribed.

    Tell us what type of content you want to receive.

    Be informed with our weekly newsletter updating you with relevant news and research around a Culture of Health, as well as the latest funding opportunities.

    Get funded by RWJF: Receive notifications when new funding opportunities are released.

    Receive monthly updates on RWJF-sponsored research that informs many robust health policy debates on Capitol Hill, covering topics like health equity, improving access to quality healthcare, equitable housing, and more.

    Shop talk for researchers. This monthly newsletter covers research news and opportunities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

    Sometimes we have news, announcements or opportunities that don't quite fit the subscription parameters above. If you're interested, we'll send you this information under "There's more...". *If you've indicated you are an EU resident, we will only send these communications if you intentionally check this box.

    Yes! I want to tell you more about myself and receive personalized communications in the future.

    Area(s) Of Interest

    Which profession or pursuit best describes you?

    Unsubscribe

    Stop receiving all emails from RWJF

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    +

    SHARE

    • CONTACT RWJF

      50 College Road East

      Princeton, NJ 08540-6614

       

      US Toll Free: (877) 843-7953

      International: +1 (609) 627-6000

    • MANAGE YOUR GRANTS

      MyRWJF Login

      • Twitter link
      • Facebook link
      • LinkedIn link
      • YouTube link

    • Our Vision
      • Our Vision Overview
      • Why Health Equity
      • Focus Areas
      • Measuring RWJF Progress
    • Grants
      • Grants Overview
      • Active Funding Opportunities
      • Awarded Grants
      • Grantee Stories
      • Grant Process
      • Grantee Resources
    • Insights
      • Insights Overview
      • Blog
      • Our Research
      • Advocacy And Policy
    • About RWJF
      • About RWJF Overview
      • Our Guiding Principles
      • How We Work
      • Impact Investments
      • Staff And Trustees
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Contact Us

    ©2001- 

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 

     

    • Manage Email
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms and Conditions