Recent preliminary research suggests that many Americans are not using, or are unlikely to use, the information on food labels to help them select foods in restaurants (see: Krukowski RA, Harvey-Berino J, Kolodinsky J, Narsana RT, DeSisto TP. Consumers may not use or understand calorie labeling in restaurants. J Am Diet Assn 2006;106[6]:917-920). Further, many do not have the basic knowledge necessary to allow them to use of such information appropriately.
The researchers conducted telephone surveys of 316 college students and 649 community residents to determine the extent to which they would be likely to use nutritional information if it were posted in restaurants. The respondents were also asked how many calories they thought they should consume in a day.
In general, about one third of the survey participants were unable to give reasonable estimates of their calorie requirements -- more women than men were able to do so. Also, between 44 and 57% of the respondents said they would be unlikely to use restaurant food calorie information even if it were available.
As part of their campaign to blame fast food restaurants for the increasing prevalence of obesity in America, CSPI and other food activists have demanded that restaurants list the calorie and other nutrient content of foods on their menu boards. They assume that if customers were to see such information posted, they would not buy these foods -- or perhaps would buy less of them -- and therefore would not gain weight. But if the current research reflects reality, then as the authors suggest, "public education campaigns focused on calorie requirements may need to precede restaurant labeling."
If such labeling were valuable to consumers, they would demand it, and restaurants would provide it, without being coerced into doing so.
Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., is Director of Nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
