Purchasing Behavior Influenced By Calorie Information At Point Of Purchase

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 16 Jun 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Researchers examined the effect that displaying calorie information at fast-food chains has on its customers. A total of 7,318 customers were surveyed from 275 randomly selected restaurants of 11 fast food chains within New York City.

The results found that patrons purchased an average of 827 calories. Only 4 percent of patrons reported even seeing calorie information provided at the site, with the exception of Subway. Unlike other chains, Subway placed calorie information on deli cases near the register and over one-third of Subway patrons reported that the placement of calorie information by the deli cases near the register influenced their purchase.

Those Subway patrons who reported seeing calorie information purchased an average of 52 fewer calories than those who did not.

"Fast food, which represents approximately 74 percent of all restaurant traffic nationally, typically contains more calories per serving than does food prepared at home . . . Placement of calorie information at point of purchase is more effective and may be associated with lower calorie purchases among consumer who report seeing information," the study's authors stated.

"Purchasing Behavior and Calorie Information at Fast-Food Chains in New York City, 2007"
Mary T. Bassett, Tamara Dumanovsky, Christina Huang, Lynn D. Silver, Candace Young, Cathy Nonas, Thomas D. Matte, Sekai Chideya, Thomas R. Frieden
American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2008.135020
Click here to view Abstract online

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American Journal of Public Health