Calorie Consumption Patterns and Nutritional Labeling

Using data from the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we explore the relationship between label users and their daily caloric intake. In an attempt to improve upon the narrow focus many previous national labeling studies have suffered from, we examine multiple measures of calorie consumption from different retail sources, such as fast food and sit-down restaurants and grocery stores. Preliminary findings indicate that using nutrition labeling found on packaged food is associated with fewer calories consumed overall, but the reduction is difficult to associate with a single retail source. Similarly, using calorie labeling found in restaurants is associated with a somewhat larger reduction in overall calories consumed, and this reduction is likely due to fewer calories consumed from fast food restaurants and grocery stores.