The Impact of Menu Labeling on Fast-Food Purchases for Children and Parents

Abstract Background The long-term effect of calorie labeling on fast-food purchases is unclear. McDonald’s voluntarily labeled its menus with calories in 2012, providing an opportunity to evaluate this initiative on purchases. Methods From 2010 to 2014, we collected receipts from and administered questionnaires to 2971 adults, 2164 adolescents, and 447 parents/guardians of school-age children during repeated visits to 82 restaurants, including McDonald’s and five control chains that did not label menus over the study period in four New England cities. In 2018, we analyzed the data by using difference-in-differences analyses to estimate associations of calorie labeling with calories purchased (actual and estimated) and predicted probability of noticing calorie information on menus. Results Calorie labeling at McDonald’s was not associated with changes in calories purchased in adults (change = − 19 cal pre- vs. post-labeling at McDonald’s compared to control chains, 95% CI: − 112, 75), adolescents (change = − 49 cal, 95% CI: − 136, 38), or children (change = 13 cal, 95% CI: − 108, 135). Calorie labeling generally increased the predicted probability of noticing calorie information, but did not improve estimation of calories purchased. Conclusions Calorie labeling at McDonald’s was not associated with changes in calories purchased in adults, adolescents, or children. Although participants were more likely to notice calories on menus post-labeling, there was no improvement in ability to accurately estimate calories purchased.

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Purchasing Intentions toward Fast Food: The Mediating Role of Consumer Attitudes toward Fast Food

Journal of Food Quality ◽

10.1155/2021/9931083 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Jian Xue ◽

Wenjing Zhang ◽

Zeeshan Rasool ◽

Mohsin Ali Khan ◽

Ahmad Imran Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Family Structure ◽

Fast Food ◽

Nuclear Family ◽

Important Change ◽

Fast Food Industry ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Food Purchases ◽

The Impact

We highlight the role of fast food awareness and the features affecting the intentions of individuals buying it. The fast food industry is developing rapidly, opening new doors for various stakeholders. The objective of the study is to identify the impact of knowledge of fast food on the desire to buy fast food, study its impact on fast food purchasing intentions, and uncover the effect of fast food attitudes on consumers’ purchasing intentions and intention patterns. Several studies discuss the factors prompting fast food purchases, but convincing findings have not been reported. The previous research did not disclose some significant variables influencing consumers’ fast food-related decisions, namely, knowledge and uniqueness-seeking qualities. The existing studies are centered on connections between facts about fast food and unique consumer traits (independent variables), attitudes toward fast food (mediator), and fast food purchasing expectations (dependent variable). The mediator between attitudes toward fast food and fast food purchasing intentions is family structure. In previous studies, the variables and connections were examined from a different perspective. The study’s data were collected through a questionnaire, and 279 consumers frequenting well-known shops in Pakistan were sampled. To provide statistical evidence, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multigroup moderations were performed. Knowledge of fast food and uniqueness-seeking characteristics were relevant both directly and through mediation when predicting fast food purchasing intentions. The hypothesized direction between attitudes toward fast food and fast food purchases was also significantly moderated by family structure. This study is the first of its kind and helps identify the fast food purchasing behaviors of consumers in developing countries. The shift from joint family systems to a nuclear family model is a particularly important change in the social experience of food.

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Estimating the impact of various menu labeling formats on parents’ demand for fast-food kids’ meals for their children: An experimental auction

Appetite ◽

10.1016/j.appet.2016.06.017 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 105 ◽

pp. 582-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Erin Hobin ◽

Heather Lillico ◽

Fei Zuo ◽

Jocelyn Sacco ◽

Laura Rosella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Experimental Auction ◽

Menu Labeling ◽

The Impact

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The impact of the Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition label on purchasing intentions of unprocessed and processed foods: post-hoc analyses from three randomized controlled trials

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s12966-021-01108-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manon Egnell ◽

Pilar Galan ◽

Morgane Fialon ◽

Mathilde Touvier ◽

Sandrine Péneau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Low Income ◽

P Value ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Nutrition Label ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Processed Products ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The Nutri-Score summary graded front-of-pack nutrition label has been identified as an efficient tool to increase the nutritional quality of pre-packed food purchases. However, no study has been conducted to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on the shopping cart composition, considering the type of foods. The present paper aims to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on the type of food purchases, in terms of the relative contribution of unpacked and pre-packed foods, or the processing degree of foods. Methods Between September 2016 and April 2017, three consecutive randomized controlled trials were conducted in three specific populations – students (N = 1866), low-income individuals (N = 336) and subjects suffering from cardiometabolic diseases (N = 1180) – to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on purchasing intentions compared to the Reference Intakes and no label. Using these combined data, the proportion of unpacked products in the shopping carts, as well as the distribution of products across food categories taking into account the degree of processing (NOVA classification) were assessed by trials arm. Results The shopping carts of participants simulating purchases with the Nutri-Score affixed on pre-packed foods contained higher proportion of unpacked products – especially raw fruits and meats, i.e. with no FoPL –, compared to participants purchasing with no label (difference of 5.93 percentage points [3.88–7.99], p-value< 0.0001) or with the Reference Intakes (difference of 5.27[3.25–7.29], p-value< 0.0001). This higher proportion was partly explained by fewer purchases of pre-packed processed and ultra-processed products overall in the Nutri-Score group. Conclusions These findings provide new insights on the positive effect of the Nutri-Score, which appears to decrease purchases in processed products resulting in higher proportions of unprocessed and unpacked foods, in line with public health recommendations.

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Parental incarceration affects children’s emotional and behavioral outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study of children aged 9 to 13 years

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025421995918 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 016502542199591

Author(s):

Daragh Bradshaw ◽

Ann-Marie Creaven ◽

Orla T. Muldoon

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Child Outcomes ◽

Behavioral Outcomes ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Parental Incarceration ◽

Child Relationship ◽

Children And Parents ◽

The Impact

Parental incarceration (PI) is negatively associated with emotional, educational, and psychological child outcomes. However, few studies explore potential mechanisms through which these outcomes are transmitted or the means by which prosocial outcomes might develop. This study used data from two waves of a population cohort study of children aged 9 years and followed up aged 13 years living in Ireland. Children and parents ( N = 8,568) completed measures of PI, primary caregiver (PCG) depression, PCG-child relationship quality, and child behavioral adjustment. We then conducted a secondary analysis on this national longitudinal study of children in Ireland. Using sequential mediation models, we observed a mediated indirect effect of PI on prosocial outcomes via PCG depression and PCG-child relationship quality. PI at age 9 was associated with increased difficulties and reduced prosocial behavior at age 13. Additionally, PI at age 9 affected PCG depression and the PCG-child relationship quality. Additionally, child prosocial outcomes, and emotional and behavioral difficulties were less apparent where PI had a weaker effect on PCG depression and the quality of PCG-child relationship. Supports that can mitigate the impact of PI for vulnerable caregivers and children are discussed.

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Influence of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors in the Middle East and North Africa Region: a survey of 5896 individuals

Journal of Translational Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12967-021-02767-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed Abouzid ◽

◽

Dina M. El-Sherif ◽

Nael Kamel Eltewacy ◽

Nesrine Ben Hadj Dahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Middle East ◽

Food Consumption ◽

North Africa ◽

Fast Food ◽

Online Survey ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Mena Region ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. Methods We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. Results A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P < 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.17; P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20; P < 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02–1.12; P < 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01–1.18; P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.77–0.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of amplifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Should Fast-Food Franchisees Pursue Entrepreneurial Orientation?

Entrepreneurship Research Journal ◽

10.1515/erj-2019-0377 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Ehsan Asgharian ◽

Misagh Tasavori ◽

Jim Andersén

Keyword(s):

Firm Performance ◽

Significant Role ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽

Fast Food ◽

Business Systems ◽

Unidimensional Construct ◽

Different Dimensions ◽

Competitive Aggressiveness ◽

The Impact

Abstract Although it is widely accepted that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) improves firm performance, scholars have advised that particular attention should be paid to the context. In this research, we investigate a less explored context of franchising where business systems and procedures are usually dictated to franchisees by franchisors. Therefore, whether a franchisor should allow franchisees to pursue EO (innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy) is not clear. In the context of franchising, the majority of prior studies have mainly focused on the employment of EO as a unidimensional construct and at the franchisor level. In this research, we take a bottom-up perspective and evaluate the impact of different dimensions of EO on franchisees’ performance. Our analysis of a multi-group of 183 restaurant franchisees located in Sweden and Iran reveals that only the pursuit of proactiveness and competitive aggressiveness improves a franchisee’s performance and other dimensions do not play a significant role in improving performance in this context.

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Stakeholder responses toward fast food chains’ CSR

Corporate Communications An International Journal ◽

10.1108/ccij-05-2017-0047 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 117-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yeonsoo Kim ◽

Mari Luz Zapata Ramos

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Issue ◽

Public Relations ◽

Fast Food ◽

Corporate Image ◽

Food Chains ◽

Supportive Communication ◽

Content Type ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how stakeholders perceive the motives behind fast food companies’ public health-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) and general social issue-related CSR initiatives, and their responses toward CSR in terms of supportive communication intent, investment intent, and purchase intent. The authors further examine the impact of perceived CSR motives on intent and whether a healthier chain image has an effect on stakeholder responses. Design/methodology/approach An online experiment was conducted. This study employed a randomized 2 (CSR type: health-related CSR vs generic social issue-related CSR)×2 (chain image: healthier chain vs general fast-food chain) full factorial design using general stakeholder samples. Findings For an ordinary fast food restaurant, generic social issue-related CSR programs elicited significantly more positive perceptions of CSR motives, supportive communication intent and investment intent, than public-health related CSR. When a company has a healthier image, stakeholders do not distinguish between CSR types. Stakeholders perceive both CSR types as stemming from mutually beneficial motives and show neutral to slightly positive reactions to both CSR. A positively perceived CSR motive plays a determinant role in anticipating communication, investment, and purchase intents. Originality/value This is the first study that examines stakeholder perception of motives behind and responses toward fast food chains’ health-related vs generic social issue-related CSR initiatives, in light of corporate image. The study findings help public relations practitioners, public health professionals, parent groups, and legislators understand stakeholders’ reactions toward CSR initiatives in the fast food industry and help them monitor practices for improvements.

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Taming the Obesity Beast: Children, Marketing, and Public Policy Considerations

Journal of Public Policy & Marketing ◽

10.1509/jppm.26.2.236 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 236-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Kathleen Seiders ◽

Ross D. Petty

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Special Section ◽

Marketing Research ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Policy Interventions ◽

Longitudinal Tracking ◽

Fast Food Restaurants ◽

Role Of Parents ◽

Packaged Food ◽

The Impact

This essay explores the policy implications of the findings in this special section for potential remedies and opportunities for further research in the critical area of obesity. Children are an important focus here both because of the dramatic increase in childhood obesity in recent decades and because they lack the cognitive development and social experience to process marketing communications with the sophistication of adults. In addition, children's food purchase decisions are substantially influenced by their parents. Although packaged food marketers are setting their own voluntary restrictions on products to be marketed during entertainment content targeted at children, the impact of such restrictions is limited because children are substantial viewers of general entertainment content. This essay suggests that more prominent nutrition disclosure oriented toward obesity concerns for both packaged foods and fast-food restaurants should be more fully considered. It further suggests that increased marketing research is needed to better understand children as consumers, the role of parents as gatekeepers, and the differences between ethnic population segments. Marketing research also can contribute to the assessment of the effectiveness of different regulatory approaches adopted by various countries and the viability of mass educational approaches versus individual encouragement by parents, doctors, and others. The authors note that because obesity is a long-term health problem, a longitudinal tracking study would be useful in studying both health effects over time and the effectiveness of various policy interventions.

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