scholarly journals Changes in the calorie and nutrient content of purchased fast food meals after calorie menu labeling: A natural experiment

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. e1003714
Author(s):  
Joshua Petimar ◽  
Fang Zhang ◽  
Eric B. Rimm ◽  
Denise Simon ◽  
Lauren P. Cleveland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Menu Labeling ◽  
Sales Data ◽  
Calorie Labeling ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Nationwide Implementation

Background Calorie menu labeling is a policy that requires food establishments to post the calories on menu offerings to encourage healthy food choice. Calorie labeling has been implemented in the United States since May 2018 per the Affordable Care Act, but to the best of our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the relationship between calorie labeling and meal purchases since nationwide implementation of this policy. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between calorie labeling and the calorie and nutrient content of purchased meals after a fast food franchise began labeling in April 2017, prior to the required nationwide implementation, and after nationwide implementation of labeling in May 2018, when all large US chain restaurants were required to label their menus. Methods and findings We obtained weekly aggregated sales data from 104 restaurants that are part of a fast food franchise for 3 national chains in 3 US states: Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The franchise provided all sales data from April 2015 until April 2019. The franchise labeled menus in April 2017, 1 year prior to the required nationwide implementation date of May 2018 set by the US Food and Drug Administration. We obtained nutrition information for items sold (calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, sugar, dietary fiber, and sodium) from Menustat, a publicly available database with nutrition information for items offered at the top revenue-generating US restaurant chains. We used an interrupted time series to find level and trend changes in mean weekly calorie and nutrient content per transaction after franchise and nationwide labeling. The analytic sample represented 331,776,445 items purchased across 67,112,342 transactions. Franchise labeling was associated with a level change of −54 calories/transaction (95% confidence interval [CI]: −67, −42, p < 0.0001) and a subsequent 3.3 calories/transaction increase per 4-week period (95% CI: 2.5, 4.1, p < 0.0001). Nationwide implementation was associated with a level decrease of −82 calories/transaction (95% CI: −88, −76, p < 0.0001) and a subsequent −2.1 calories/transaction decrease per 4-week period (95% CI: −2.9, −1.3, p < 0.0001). At the end of the study, the model-based predicted mean calories/transaction was 4.7% lower (change = −73 calories/transaction, 95% CI: −81, −65), and nutrients/transaction ranged from 1.8% lower (saturated fat) to 7.0% lower (sugar) than what we would expect had labeling not been implemented. The main limitations were potential residual time-varying confounding and lack of individual-level transaction data. Conclusions In this study, we observed that calorie labeling was associated with small decreases in mean calorie and nutrient content of fast food meals 2 years after franchise labeling and nearly 1 year after implementation of labeling nationwide. These changes imply that calorie labeling was associated with small improvements in purchased meal quality in US chain restaurants.

scholarly journals Menu Descriptions and Nutrient Content of Food Items in U.S. Restaurants (FS02-01-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Krobath ◽  
William Masters ◽  
Megan Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Trans Fat ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nutrient Data

Abstract Objectives This study concerns how the description of foods on restaurant menus relates to their nutrient content as disclosed on company websites. We aimed to test halo effects, regarding how claims about some desirable features might be associated with the presence of other attributes. Methods We used item descriptions and nutrient data for food items (n = 92,949) at the top-selling restaurant chains (n = 92) from 2012 through 2017 in the United States, compiled by the MenuStat project. We classified items into 4 types (mains, appetizers, desserts, sides) and claims into 3 groups using 29 search terms based on consumer interests in health (e.g., “nutritious”), product sourcing (e.g., “local” or “organic”), and vegetal items (vegetarian or vegan). Nutrient data focus on 4 dietary recommendations to limit sodium (mg), trans-fat (g) and saturated fats (% of energy), and to increase fiber (g). We also report calories per item (kcal) and its share from carbohydrates, protein and total fat (%). We used multiple regression to test whether nutrient content was associated with menu claims, controlling for year and restaurant brand, the item being marked as “shareable”, on a kid's menu, or regional and limited-time offerings. Methods and hypotheses were preregistered on As-Predicted.com. Results Contrary to our prediction, nutrient content was more often aligned with U.S. dietary guidelines when their description did include claims. With 3 claim types, 4 food types and 4 recommendations we test 48 possible cases. In 25 (52%) we found alignment between claims and nutrient recommendations, e.g., main dishes with health-related claims had 2% less calories from saturated fat (P < 0.01) and 142 mg less sodium (P < 0.01). In 3 of 48 cases (7%), claims were contrary to recommendations, all of which were desserts with sourcing claims which had more sodium, more trans-fat and more saturated fat than other desserts (all P < 0.01). In 20 of 48 cases (42%) there was no significant difference between items with and without claims. Conclusions Items described as vegetarian/vegan or with sourcing and health claims had nutrient contents that were more often aligned with dietary guidelines than other items. Menu labeling that communicates meal content more directly, such as nutrient fact panels, could inform choice and build trust in restaurant meals. Funding Sources None.

scholarly journals Emotional Eating in Adults: the Role of Socio-demographics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Self-regulation- Findings From a US National Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roni Elran Barak ◽  
Kerem Shuval ◽  
Qing Li ◽  
Reid Oetjen ◽  
Jeffrey Drope ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Eating Patterns ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Abstract Background: Emotional eating, the tendency to overeat in response to negative emotions, has often been linked to weight gain. However, scant evidence exists examining prevalence and correlates of emotional eating among large samples of adults in the United States (US). Hence, we examine the relationship between individual and socio-economic factors, health behaviors, and self-regulation to emotional eating patterns among US adults. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 5,863 Family Health Habits Survey participants. Multivariable ordered logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between the frequency of the desire to eat when emotionally upset (never, rarely, sometimes, often, and very often) to the independent variables. Results: Analysis reveals that 20.5% of the sample tended to emotionally eat often or very often. Being female, non-Hispanic white, and of younger age were all related to a higher likelihood of emotional eating. Additionally, inability to delay gratification (impatience) was related to an 18% increased likelihood (95%CI 1.05-1.33) for emotional eating. Finally, emotional eating was significantly related to more frequent fast food consumption, and increased alcohol intake. Conclusions: Program planners might need to develop targeted interventions aimed at enhancing emotional regulation skills while addressing these less healthful behaviors (e.g., fast-food intake) with the ultimate goal of obesity and chronic disease prevention. To examine the relationship between individual and socio-economic factors, health behaviors, and self-regulation to emotional eating patterns among adults.

The Oxford Handbook of Food History

2012 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food History ◽  
Food Regimes ◽  
Food Activism ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This book chronicles the history of food. It starts with the Columbian Exchange, a term coined in 1972 by the historian Alfred Crosby to refer to the flow of plants, animals and microbes across the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. It then explores the spice trade during the medieval period, the social biography and politics of food, and how food history is connected with race and ethnicity in the United States. The book also focuses on cookbooks as an important primary source for historians; contemporary food ethics, ethical food consumerism, and “ethical food consumption”; the link between food and social movements; the emerging critical nutrition studies; the relationship between food and gender and how gender can enlighten the study of food activism; the relationship between food and religion; the debates over food as they have developed within geography in both the English- and French-speaking worlds; food history as part of public history; culinary tourism; national cuisines; food regimes analysis; how the Annales School in France has shaped the field of food history; the role of food in anthropology; a global history of fast food, focusing on the McDonald's story; industrial foods; and the merits of food studies and its lessons for sociology. In addition, the book assesses the impact of global food corporations' domination in the contemporary era, which in many ways can be seen as the equivalent of the European and American empire of the past.

scholarly journals Consumer Generalization of Nutrient Content Claims in Advertising

1998 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 62-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Craig Andrews ◽  
Richard G. Netemeyer ◽  
Scot Burton
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Risk Measures ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Nutrition Labeling ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Considerable Research ◽  
Research Questions

Although considerable research exists on consumer processing of nutrition labeling and package claims, less is known about consumer interpretation of nutrient content claims in advertising. This is important because product advertising often provides a significant first step for consumers in learning new nutrition information. Yet, unlike package claims, Nutrition Facts Panels are often not available for consumers during the processing of such advertising claims. Therefore, the authors examine the following research questions: (1) Do consumers misinterpret (i.e., overgeneralize) common nutrient content claims in advertising? If so, under what conditions does this occur? and (2) Can various types of disclosure statements remedy this problem? To address these questions, the authors interview a total of 365 primary food shoppers in three geographically dispersed malls in the United States in a between-subjects experiment. Misleading generalizations, beyond those of control ad claims, are found for general and specific nutrient content claims. Ad disclosure type, ad claim type, and nutrition knowledge all separately influence nutrient content and disease risk measures. Evaluative disclosures reduce misleading generalizations to a greater extent than do absolute or relative disclosures. The authors offer implications for public policy and food marketers.

The relationship between taste and nutrient content in commercially available foods from the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid W.B. van Langeveld ◽  
Shannon Gibbons ◽  
Yvonne Koelliker ◽  
Gail V. Civille ◽  
Jeanne H.M. de Vries ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Associations between State-Level Obesity Rates, Engagement with Food Brands on Social Media, and Hashtag Usage

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12785
Author(s):  
Yuanqi Gu ◽  
Jaime Coffino ◽  
Rebecca Boswell ◽  
Zora Hall ◽  
Marie A. Bragg
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Low Calorie ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sugary Drink ◽  
The Relationship

Food advertisement exposure is associated with increased caloric intake, but little is known about food/beverage placements in the digital media environment. We aimed to examine the correlation between the number of people who follow food and beverage brand social media accounts (i.e., user engagement) and state-level obesity rates; quantify social media followers’ use of “healthy” vs. “unhealthy” hashtags; and analyze the relationship between user engagement and hashtag usage. We identified the 26 fast-food and beverage brands with the highest advertising expenditures and used Demographics Pro to determine the characteristics of social media users amongst the 26 brands. A series of regression analyses were conducted that related the mean percentage of brand followers and state-level obesity rates. We then identified 733 hashtags on Instagram and 703 hashtags on Twitter, coding them as “healthy”, “unhealthy”, “neutral”, or “unrelated to health”. Intercoder reliability was established using ReCal2, which indicated a 90% agreement between coders. Finally, we conducted ANCOVA to examine the relationship between the mean percentage of brand followers and their hashtag usage. There was a significant, positive correlation between the state-level obesity rate and the mean percentage of followers of sugary drink or fast-food brands on Instagram and Twitter, but such a correlation between obesity and low-calorie drink brand followers was only found on Twitter. Our findings illustrate the relationship between the social media food environment and obesity rates in the United States. Given the high rates of engagement with food brands on social media, policies should limit digital advertisements featuring fast-food, sugary drink, and low-calorie drink brands.

scholarly journals Nutrition Labeling in the United States and the Role of Consumer Processing, Message Structure, and Moderating Conditions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Craig Andrews ◽  
Scot Burton ◽  
Laurel Aynne Cook
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Nutrition Labeling ◽  
White House ◽  
Message Structure ◽  
Education Act

It has been since 1990 that the landmark Nutritional Labeling Education Act (NLEA) was passed in the United States, and since 1969 that the first White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health occurred. In the time since these important events, considerable research has been conducted on how U.S. consumers process and use nutritional labeling. An up-to-date review of nutritional labeling research must address key findings on the processing and use of nutrition facts panels (NFPs), restaurant labeling, front-of-pack (FOP) symbols, health and nutrient content claims, new labeling efforts (e.g., for meat products), and claims not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Message structure mediates the ways in which consumers process nutritional labeling while moderating conditions affect research outcomes associated with labeling efforts. The most recent policy issues and problems to be considered (e.g., by the FDA) include nutritional labeling as well as identifying opportunities for consumer research in helping to promote healthy lifestyles and reducing obesity in the United States and throughout the world. For example, several unanswered research questions remain regarding how the proposed changes to the NFPs—beef, poultry, and seafood labeling; restaurant chain calorie labeling; alternative FOP formats; and regulated and unregulated health and nutrient content claims—will affect consumers. Researchers have yet to examine not only these different labeling and nutrition information formats, but also how they might interact with one another and the role of key moderating conditions (e.g., one’s motivation, ability opportunity to process nutrition information) in affecting consumer processing and behavior.

scholarly journals Sodium and Saturated Fat Content of Children's Foods at Top-selling U.S. Chain Restaurants in 2017 (P04-150-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula-Dene Nesbeth ◽  
Yuru Huang ◽  
Kasey Heintz
Keyword(s):  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Oak Ridge ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Serving Size ◽  
Limited Service

Abstract Objectives To understand the nutritional landscape of restaurant meals targeted to children, the nutrient content of common menu categories, such as sandwiches, were collected from top U.S. chain restaurants. Median sodium and saturated fat content of restaurant entrees, sandwiches (including burgers), and pizzas were compared to U.S. dietary recommendations. Mean sodium and saturated fat per 100 kilocalories were also compared by menu category and restaurant type (limited service and full service). Methods Nutrient data was obtained from publicly available menu and nutrition information collected in 2017 from websites of top-selling U.S. chain restaurants. Foods were categorized using menu category definitions in MenuStat, a restaurant nutrition database created by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Linear regression was used to identify differences in nutrient density by menu category and restaurant type. Results The dataset contained 356 entrees, 28 pizzas, 162 sandwiches and burgers from 64 top U.S. chain restaurants that have online nutrition information with menu items aimed for children. Median (Q1, Q3) milligrams of sodium were 780 (500, 1150) for entrees, 1000 (797.5, 1272.5) for pizzas, and 850 (613, 1160) for sandwiches and burgers respectively. Median (Q1, Q3) grams of saturated fat were 4.25 (2, 8) for entrees, 8 (6, 11.25) for pizzas, and 6 (3.5, 10.75) for sandwiches and burgers. Fifty-one % of entrees, 89% of pizzas, and 73% of sandwiches have >10% of calories from saturated fat, whereas the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended consuming <10% of calories per day from saturated fat. Predicted mean saturated fat in grams per 100 kcal for sandwiches and burgers was lower in limited service (1.51, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.65) compared to full service restaurants (2.08, 95% CI: 1.88, 2.29). However, this difference may be related to serving size which was not available for 83% of menu items. Conclusions With more Americans purchasing meals outside the home and the availability of restaurant nutrition information, examination of nutrient content and serving size for restaurant foods can help to identify areas for nutritional improvement for meals targeted to children. Funding Sources U.S. Food and Drug Administration and an appointment to FDA administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and FDA.

The Relationship Between Price, Amounts of Saturated and Trans Fats, and Nutrient Content Claims on Margarines and Oils

2005 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Ricciuto ◽  
Hedy Ip ◽  
Valerie Tarasuk
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Trans Fats ◽  
Greater Toronto Area ◽  
Label Information ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Heart Disease Risk

Purpose: Modifications to the amount and type of fat in the diet are recommended as strategies to help reduce heart disease risk. Individuals can choose from a variety of margarines and oils to alter their intakes of different types of fats, and nutrient content claims on product labels (e.g., ‘low in saturated fat’) can help them quickly identify healthful products. However, margarines and oils vary in price. Methods: To examine the relationship between the price and amounts of saturated and trans fats in margarines and oils, and the relationship between price and the presence of nutrient content claims, price and label information were recorded for margarines (n=229) and oils (n=342) sold in the major supermarkets within the Greater Toronto Area. Results: Linear regression analysis revealed a negative relationship between the price and amounts of saturated fat and trans fats in margarines, but not in oils. Margarines with a nutrient content claim were significantly more expensive than were those without a claim. Conclusions: The findings for margarines are of particular concern for lower income groups for whom budgetary constraints result in the purchase of lower priced foods, and also raise important questions about the usefulness of nutrient content claims in guiding food selections.

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