Nowadays, most restaurants and bars display the number of calories in fast food. This became a requirement in 2017. However, it doesn’t seem to make any difference. A study conducted at New York University indicates that fast food labeling doesn’t necessarily help people make better choices. Only eight percent of customers are likely to order healthier foods after reading the labels.
It’s no secret that fast food packs a lot of calories. Some items on the menu boast over 1,000 calories per serving. Even salad can add inches to your waist, especially if it’s made with mayo, croutons, and other sauces.
Several studies have shown that even though calorie labeling is a good step towards healthy eating, it has little impact on people’s food choices. According to researchers, the success of this strategy depends on a variety of factors, not just the availability of calorie information. These include:
Customers must be motivated to eat healthy
Customers must be aware of and understand food labeling
They must know their daily calorie requirements
Labeling must reach those who consume fast food regularly
The labels must offer information that differs from consumers’ expectations
Unfortunately, these conditions are rarely met. Most customers either lack the motivation needed to eat healthier, or are unaware of how many calories they should consume on a daily basis. Some don’t even bother to read the labels. Researchers have found that a third of those surveyed did not see calorie labels posted. Another two thirds have not noticed the labels.
Health experts recommend that fast food chains provide additional data, such as the average recommended daily calorie intake, calories burned during exercise, and other helpful information. They also suggest using brightly colored labels to draw customers’ attention. Awareness is the first step in fighting the obesity epidemic. People need to understand food labels in order to make smart food choices.
