Associations Between Reported Use of Nutritional Labels and Calorie Intake in US Adults: Findings From NHANES 2017–2020

Objective Caloric information is commonly displayed on nutritional fact labels and food menus. Yet evidence is limited on whether label use is associated with a reduced‐calorie diet. This study examined the associations between the use of caloric information on nutritional facts and menu labels and daily caloric intake. Methods We used data from adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 to conduct a cross‐sectional study. Calorie label use on nutritional labels and menus was assessed using the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey telephone interview. Caloric intake was evaluated using the mean of two 24‐h diet recalls implemented with the USDA 5‐step Automated Multiple Pass Method. Data were analyzed using linear regression models. Results The sample included 5377 participants (mean age of 48.2 years; 52.9% female; 64.4% non‐Hispanic White; 33.4% with a college or above education). Participants who always used nutritional labels consumed significantly fewer calories than those who used nutritional labels most of the time, sometimes, rarely, or never ( p < 0.001). Participants who used menu labels reported consuming significantly fewer calories than those who did not notice the menu labels ( p < 0.001). Compared to individuals who used menu labels and always or most of the time used nutrition fact labels, those who used menu labels but sometimes ( M = 100.54, SE = 48.35, t (25) = 2.08, p = 0.048) or rarely or never used nutrition fact labels ( M = 293.52, SE = 66.96, t (25) = 4.38, p = 0.0002) consumed more calories. Conclusions and Implications Use of caloric information on nutritional facts and menu labels is associated with lower caloric intake. Clinical and policy interventions that help people use calorie information may help to reduce intake of high‐calorie foods.