By CDC

A new study published in the July 11th issue of CDC’s Morbity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reports that more than 50% of adults surveyed said they used menu label information when making food choices in restaurants. Researchers analyzed self-reported menu label usage among 17 states by using data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Among the 118,013 adults surveyed, approximately 3 of 5 (57%) reported that when calorie information was available on restaurant menus, it helped them decide what to order.

Menu labeling

The 17 states described in this study were as follows:

Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee.

Researchers found that New York (61.3%) had the highest  proportion of menu label users, followed by Hawaii (60.2%). Montana (48.7%) had the lowest proportion of menu label users. For each state, menu label usage was higher among women than men. The use of menu labels by age and race/ethnicity varied by state.

Menu labeling in restaurants can help consumers make informed food choices. According to this study’s authors, targeted strategies for awareness and education may help to increase the use of menu labels in restaurants across the United States, and help adults who want to choose foods and beverages with fewer calories. Federal law requires restaurants that have 20 locations or more nationally to list calorie information next to menu items on menus or menu boards. To date, regulations to implement this law have not been finalized. However, many restaurants and other places where foods and beverages are sold have begun to post this information voluntarily.

Read this article in its entirety at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6327a1.htm?s_cid=mm6327a1_e.

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