Prevalence of menu label use and its association with calorie intake among US adults

Abstract

The 2018 Federal Menu Labeling regulations require restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations to provide calorie and other nutrition information for standard menu items. In this study, we describe the sociodemographic correlates of prevalence of menu label use at Food-Away-From-Home (FAFH) establishments and estimate the association between menu label use and calorie intake. We use nationally representative data spanning the years 2007–2018 and multivariable logit regression and ordinary least squares regression models. For FAFH establishments, we find that female respondents have about 26% (95% CI = [1.14, 1.39]) higher odds of using menu labels. Respondents with high school degree have 51 percent higher odds (95% CI = [1.24, 1.85]), respondents with some college education have 107 percent higher odds (95% CI = [1.74, 2.47]) of seeing menu labels. Higher income is associated with 12% (95% CI = [1.08, 1.15]) greater odds of seeing menu labels. Hispanic respondents have 29% (95% CI = [0.62, 0.81]) lower odds of seeing and 79% (95% CI = [1.41, 2.29]) higher odds of using menu labels. Black respondents have 54% (95% CI = [1.35,1.75] higher odds of seeing menu labels at sit-down restaurants. Menu label users at fast-food restaurants reported consuming 202 kcal (95% CI = [-252,-153]) fewer total calories than nonusers and menu label users at sit-down restaurants reported using 181 kcal (95% CI = [-256,-106]) fewer total calories than nonusers. Our findings highlight the sociodemographic disparities in menu label use and provide baseline estimates for future studies evaluating the federal menu labeling regulation.