The Impact of Calorie Menu Labels on Restaurant Patron Food Choice: Results from a Randomized Field Experiment

The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has more than doubled since 1980.  In part to address this rise, as well as to promote healthy eating more generally, the U.S. passed a nationwide menu label law as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.  Starting December 1, 2016, all chain restaurants in the U.S. will be required to list calorie counts next to each menu item. 

Previous studies examined how provision of calorie information affected orders at fast food restaurants and at coffee shops, but there is no information on its impact in sit-down restaurants.  This study fills that void; we conducted a randomized field experiment in which some restaurant patrons received menus with calorie counts, while others received the same menus but without calorie counts. 

We estimate models that examine the impact of the calorie label treatment on total number of calories ordered, number of calories ordered at each course (drinks, appetizer, entrée, dessert).  We will also examine whether the provision of calorie labels increases the chances of ordering the daily special, which is exempt from calorie label requirements.  Using information on the cost and price of each menu item, we estimate the impact of calorie labels on restaurant profits.  Finally, we examine whether patrons reported seeing and using the calorie information, and whether they support the listing of calorie counts on restaurant menus.  This study will provide important missing information about the impact of calorie labels on restaurant patron behavior, which will be informative about the impact of the nationwide menu label law that takes effect in late 2016.