Unlocking Healthier Choices: The Surprising Impact of Calorie Labeling on Dining Out in England

Calorie labeling itself became law in April 2022 in England, but recent research shows it has led to just a small average decrease of 2% in the energy content of food available in restaurants and takeaways. This study, published in BMJ Public Health, highlights that most changes came from replacing high-calorie items with lower-calorie options rather than reformulating existing dishes. As a result, the overall impact on public health seems to be limited.

Eating out is common, but it often leads to poorer dietary choices and weight gain. Calorie labeling aims to help consumers make better choices by showing calorie counts on menus. The law requires places with over 250 employees, like restaurants and food chains, to display these counts.

The researchers compared the average energy content of menu items before and after this law took effect. They examined data from the MenuTracker database, analyzing 31,045 items from 78 chains at two different times: September 2021 and September 2022. They categorized these items by type, including burgers, pizzas, and drinks.

Interestingly, they found that average calorie counts dropped significantly for soft drinks (by 36 kcal) and burgers (by 103 kcal). But when looking at the overall menu, the average drop per item was just 9 kcal. Notably, pubs and bars showed a slightly larger decrease compared to other establishments.

While some energy-intensive items were removed from menus, the remaining offerings didn’t undergo major reformulation. The average calorie count for items that stayed the same didn’t show much change at all. Even after the new laws, about 22% of menu items still exceeded the recommended limit of 600 kcal per meal, particularly among burgers, mains, and pizzas.

The researchers pointed out the limitations of their study, mentioning that not all menu information was included and that calorie counts could vary by as much as 20%. The method of calorie counting could affect the accuracy of the data as well.

Experts suggest that while policies like the Soft Drinks Industry Levy led to more substantial reformulation in drinks, it’s less clear if the same is true for food items. Large chains may hesitate to shrink portion sizes for fear of losing customers.

In short, the researchers concluded that for calorie labeling to make a real difference in health, consumers would need to actively choose lower-calorie options more often. According to a recent survey by the Food Standards Agency, only 32% of consumers said they noticed the calorie information on menus. This suggests a gap in awareness that might limit the effectiveness of these regulations.

For now, while calorie labeling is a step toward healthier eating, it seems we have a long way to go.

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Food, Obesity, Public Health, Research, Soft Drinks