Evaluating the association between the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling and energy consumed using observational data from the out-of-home food sector in England

In April 2022, mandatory kilocalorie (kcal) labelling in the out-of-home food sector was introduced as a policy to reduce obesity in England. Here we examined whether the implementation of this policy was associated with a consumer behaviour change. Large out-of-home food sector outlets subject to kcal labelling legislation were visited pre- and post-implementation, and customer exit surveys were conducted with 6,578 customers from 330 outlets. Kcals purchased and consumed, knowledge of purchased kcals and reported noticing and use of kcal labelling were examined. The results suggested that the introduction of the mandatory kcal labelling policy in England was not associated with a significant decrease in self-reported kcals purchased (B = 11.31, P = 0.564, 95% confidence interval (CI) -27.15 to 49.77) or consumed (B = 18.51, P = 0.279, 95% CI -15.01 to 38 52.03). Post-implementation, participants underestimated the energy content of their purchased meal less (B = 61.21, P = 0.002, 95% CI 21.57 to 100.86) and were more likely to report noticing (odds ratio 2.25, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.84 to 2.73) and using (odds ratio 2.15, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.85) kcal labelling, which may have wider public health implications.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Human Behaviour
Published
2024-11-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02032-1
Citations
22
Primary Topic
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
11.94

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article

Evaluating the association between the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling and energy consumed using observational data from the out-of-home food sector in England

Michael Essman, I Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra, Andy Jones, Tom Bishop et al.
22 citations
Nature Human Behaviour
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
11.94
article

Evaluating the association between the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling and energy consumed using observational data from the out-of-home food sector in England

Michael Essman, I Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra, Andy Jones, Tom Bishop, Richard Smith, Jean M Adams, Rozemarijn Witkam, Stephen J. Sharp, Martin J. White, Eric Robinson, Thomas Burgoine, Megan Polden, Aisling Donohue, Jane Brealey
article en
22 citations

Abstract

In April 2022, mandatory kilocalorie (kcal) labelling in the out-of-home food sector was introduced as a policy to reduce obesity in England. Here we examined whether the implementation of this policy was associated with a consumer behaviour change. Large out-of-home food sector outlets subject to kcal labelling legislation were visited pre- and post-implementation, and customer exit surveys were conducted with 6,578 customers from 330 outlets. Kcals purchased and consumed, knowledge of purchased kcals and reported noticing and use of kcal labelling were examined. The results suggested that the introduction of the mandatory kcal labelling policy in England was not associated with a significant decrease in self-reported kcals purchased (B = 11.31, P = 0.564, 95% confidence interval (CI) -27.15 to 49.77) or consumed (B = 18.51, P = 0.279, 95% CI -15.01 to 38 52.03). Post-implementation, participants underestimated the energy content of their purchased meal less (B = 61.21, P = 0.002, 95% CI 21.57 to 100.86) and were more likely to report noticing (odds ratio 2.25, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.84 to 2.73) and using (odds ratio 2.15, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.85) kcal labelling, which may have wider public health implications.

Nature Human BehaviourVol. 9(2)
University of Liverpool (GB), University of Exeter (GB), University of Cambridge (GB), Liverpool College (GB), MRC Epidemiology Unit (GB), NIHR Research Delivery Network (GB), Liverpool John Moores University (GB), Lancaster University (GB)
UK Research and Innovation, Alzheimer's Society, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
11.94
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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