Menu labelling is effective in reducing energy ordered and consumed: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent studies

Abstract

Objective: Menu labelling is a practical tool to inform consumers of the energy content of menu items and help consumers make informed decisions in the eatingout environment, and the volume of studies published recently regarding its effects is expanding, both quantitatively and geographically. The aim of the present review and meta-analysis is to consider the most recent evidence which assesses the effect of menu labelling regarding changes in energy consumed, ordered or selected in both real-world and experimental settings. Design: The review included fifteen peer-reviewed, full-text articles published between 2012 and 2014. Pertinent methodological information was extracted from each of the included studies and a quality assessment scheme was applied to classify the studies, after which systematic across-study comparisons were conducted. A meta-analysis was conducted including twelve of the fifteen studies, and stratified according to type of research setting and outcome: energy consumed, ordered or selected. Results: The rating yielded studies categorized by study quality: good (n 3), fair (n 9) and weak (n 3). Overall nine studies showed statistically significant reductions in energy consumed, ordered or selected. Three articles reported no effect of menu labelling. The meta-analysis showed statistically significant effects of menu labelling: overall energy consumed was reduced by a mean of 419·5 kJ (100·2 kcal) and energy ordered in real-world settings decreased by a mean of 325·7 kJ (77·8 kcal). Conclusions: The review supports that menu labelling can effectively reduce energy ordered and consumed in the away-from-home food environment.

Efficacy of population‐wide diabetes and obesity prevention programs: An overview of systematic reviews on proximal, intermediate, and distal outcomes and a meta‐analysis of impact on BMI

“…Four reviews were assessed as good‐quality, but reached different conclusions due to differences in study inclusion criteria. These included two meta‐analyses (one including only recent studies [2012‐2014]), which found statistically significant reductions of 43 to 78 kcal ordered and 41 to 100 kcal consumed, one narrative synthesis of papers published between 2006 and 2011, which reported no effect on food ordered or consumed, and one narrative synthesis of real‐world studies, which found mixed effects.…”

“…Four reviews were assessed as good‐quality, but reached different conclusions due to differences in study inclusion criteria. These included two meta‐analyses (one including only recent studies [2012‐2014]), which found statistically significant reductions of 43 to 78 kcal ordered and 41 to 100 kcal consumed, one narrative synthesis of papers published between 2006 and 2011, which reported no effect on food ordered or consumed, and one narrative synthesis of real‐world studies, which found mixed effects. Similarly, mixed findings were reported across the eight other systematic reviews that examined this question: Three reported mixed findings, three positive findings predominantly in studies in simulated settings, one positive findings predominantly in universities and worksites, and one no significant overall effect …”

Calorie Labeling in Chain Restaurants and Body Weight: Evidence from New York

“…9 A recent meta-analysis by Long et al (2015) found that calorie labeling is associated with a statistically significant reduction of 18 calories ordered per meal; among controlled studies, however, calorie labeling is found to be associated with a statistically insignificant reduction of 8 calories per meal. Another recent meta-analysis (Littlewood et al, 2015) found that calorie labeling is associated with a statistically significant reduction of 78 calories ordered per meal. 10 They also found that calorie labeling had larger impacts on the purchase behavior of women and individuals who were high-calorie purchasers before calories were posted on menus.…”

Behavioural Insights and (Un)healthy Dietary Choices: a Review of Current Evidence

“…Overall, the effect of calorie information on food choice is a quickly growing field of research and was the subject of several reviews since 2010 (Bleich et al 2017;Fernandes et al 2016;Kiszko et al 2014;Littlewood et al 2016;Long et al 2015;Nikolaou et al 2015;Sacco et al 2017;Sinclair et al 2014;Swartz et al 2011). Even though the results are mixed, all reviews highlight the importance of the way information is provided and call for further research to find the most efficient design for specific settings.…”