Calorie labeling: the research
July 12, 2008
The Rudd Center at Yale has produced a handy summary of the research in support of calorie labels on menu boards.
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I know you hate my posting here, but the ‘evidence in support of posting calorie counts’, is nothing like that at all.
Most of the ‘data’ attempt to demonstrate that consumers are ignorant and lazy. They don’t know what they’re eating, they underestimate calories, they eat too much, the go to restaurants too much, they are duped into buying food, and so on. Consumers are to blame for being gluttons, and food merchandisers are to blame for being greedy and profit-oriented.
But, will posting calorie counts change this? Will it make people order less food, eat less food, and lose weight? No data here on that at all.
Oddly, this report only includes a few ’surveys’ that attempt to answer this question. Only the Burton and Bassett studies were published in peer-reviewed journals.
The Basset study showed only a small percentage of consumers saw the calorie information, and only a small portion of those changed their purchases — at least on the day of the survey, and at least according to what they said. What happened the week after? (The 32% of Subway patrons who reported seeing the calorie information “purchased 52 fewer calories than did other Subway patrons.”)
The Basset study was grossly misquoted in the study. Providing calorie information only affected what consumers SAID to pollsters. What did they ultimately do? No clue. Did they eat less? No clue. Did they lose weight? No data.
Marion, you were outraged by pediatric physicians who proposed putting childred on statins — with no evidence of its effectiveness. Yet you somehow believe — with no evidence of its effectiveness — that posting calorie information is a good thing, and we should all do it.
Comment by Ivan Road — July 14, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
In my experience as a Registered Dietitian who teaches health classes, people are typically flabbergasted and often feel duped when they find out the true calorie content of the food they are eating. Those who are trying to eat well and chose healthy options find it increasingly difficult to know what they are eating. The calorie content on labels is a right to know issue. This article out today by MSNBC shines light on that fact and gives a glimpse of the change occuring in NYC.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25464987/
When people are given the information, some use it, and those “some” have a right to it. Excess calories is the problem…and knowing the calorie count is the solution.
Comment by Ashley — July 17, 2008 @ 12:15 pm