Evaluating the New York City calorie labeling regulation

The Foundation's program, Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity, was designed to support investigator-initiated research to identify and assess environmental and policy influences with the greatest potential to improve healthy eating and weight patterns among the nation's children.The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene approved a regulation that requires that calorie information be posted on menu boards for restaurant chains with 15 or more stores nationally. The regulation is intended to increase prominence of calorie information at point-of-purchase to help consumers make healthier food choices and may also encourage chains to reformulate menu items, offer healthier items, and change promotional materials to emphasize healthier options. In this research, investigators will conduct a survey of customers at fast-food restaurants pre/post enforcement of calorie labeling regulations. Survey data will be used to assess: (1) changes in the percentage of customers that report seeing information, and (2) changes in purchasing as a result of calorie information; subgroup analyses, as appropriate, will include demographics, chain and calorie information posting mode. In addition, a complementary analysis will examine pre/post differences in menu offerings at the top 25 fast-food chains.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $76,157.00

Awarded on: 11/6/2008

Time frame: 11/15/2008 - 7/31/2009

Grant Number: 65429