Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Impact of Restaurant Menu Calorie Labeling
Open accessAbstract
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the relationship between menu calorie labeling and calories ordered or purchased in the PubMed, Web of Science, PolicyFile, and PAIS International databases through October 2013. Among 19 studies, menu calorie labeling was associated with a −18.13 kilocalorie reduction ordered per meal with significant heterogeneity across studies (95% confidence interval = −33.56, −2.70; P = .021; I 2 = 61.0%). However, among 6 controlled studies in restaurant settings, labeling was associated with a nonsignificant −7.63 kilocalorie reduction (95% confidence interval = −21.02, 5.76; P = .264; I 2 = 9.8%). Although current evidence does not support a significant impact on calories ordered, menu calorie labeling is a relatively low-cost education strategy that may lead consumers to purchase slightly fewer calories. These findings are limited by significant heterogeneity among nonrestaurant studies and few studies conducted in restaurant settings.
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Education or information alone, without additional economic or environmental changes, has limited influence on behavior.
“These experiences generally demonstrate that education or information alone, without additional economic or environmental changes, has limited influence on behavior.11, 401, 402”
From Dietary and Policy Priorities for Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity: A Comprehensive Review (2016) · cites this paper as [401]
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“economic or environmental changes, has a limited influence on behavior.(11,400,401) Integrated, multicomponent approaches”
- Authors
- Long, M. W., Tobias, D. K., Cradock, A. L., Batchelder, H., & Gortmaker, S. L.
- Affiliations
- Tufts University (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Public Health
- Publisher
- American Public Health Association
- Published
- 2015-05
- Volume
- 105
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- e11-e24
- ISSN
- 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-0048
- PMC
- PMC4386504
- OpenAlex
- W2118351209
- Cited by
- 257
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 8 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 4.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- JPB Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- restaurant menus, energy intake, food purchasing, food labeling policy, dietary energy reduction
- MeSH terms
- Energy Intake, Choice Behavior, Food Labeling, Food Preferences, Humans, Restaurants, Fast Foods
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