Posting calorie counts of menu items at fast-food restaurants doesn’t appear to inspire teenagers and parents of younger children to order less-fattening meals, new research finds.
Researchers who studied menu choices at four fast-food restaurant chains before and after mandatory labeling took effect in New York City said the legislation did little to lower calorie consumption.
“We didn’t notice a change in calories purchased before and after labeling [went into effect],” said study leader Dr. Brian Elbel, assistant professor of medicine and health policy at the New York University School of Medicine and Wagner School of Public Service.