Posted calorie info has no affect on customers, report suggests
At the best of times, humans are rational. We see wrong and we right it. We’re able to exorcise stubbornness and ignorance at most every turn.
At the worst, though, we’re pretty obstinate. Cancer who? I’ll show you where you can shove your lifetime of smoking. That kind of thing.
This? This probably fits in that latter category, I’d say.
As you might have heard, New York was the first state in the U.S. last year to mandate chain restaurants include the caloric content of all foods on its menus.
The idea: simple. Show our fat ***es just how much junk we’re eating and we’ll have the good sense to give it a rest.
A pretty reasonable premise, right? It sure seems to work on paper, yet the New York Times reports we, uh, don’t exactly live our lives on paper.
According to the news outlet, such caloric heads-ups have had – at best – a “modest” impact on the way New Yorkers order their food.
In fact, one report published earlier last month suggests showing the staggering nutritional deficiencies of some foods had no measurable affect on customers at all.
“When … researchers checked receipts afterward, they found that people had, in fact, ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the labelling law went into effect,” the study reads.
City officials, in response to the negative findings, have blamed the results on skewed methods. Preliminary reports tested ordering trends of mainly lower-income neighbourhoods, and New York’s health department suggests fast food promos like Subway’s $5 footlong deal have tilted the conclusions against substantive progress.
But clearly, narrowed results or not, there’s a bigger issue at stake here.
Only about 56% of customers said they noticed the posted calorie information in the first place, and an even less promising 15% said it had any influence on what they ordered.
“Dietary changes come slowly,” Dr. Lynn Silver, who presented the study’s data at a meeting of the Obesity Society, told the Times. “We’re not expecting to see miracles.”
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Joey M | Nov 2, 2021 11:43:01 PM
The people who continue to frequent these restaurants don't care about calories and fat content... atleast, not enough to stop going. Others, like myself, don't go to these restaurants because of the posted nutritional values. I don't like what I saw so I don't go anymore.
In any event, I appreciated the availability of the nutritional information and I was able to make an informed decision.
Posted by: Adam D | Nov 3, 2021 3:37:14 PM
Well when you take into account that food labels by law are allowed to be up to 40% inaccruate then why should consumers pay attention.
Posted by: Chad Ochocinco | Nov 4, 2021 4:33:07 PM
I eat Mcdonald's every day, and look at me.
Posted by: Dr. J. Steed | Nov 6, 2021 11:10:48 PM
Calorie information is misleading. Frankly, I think it is garbage. Nutrition is far more than just counting calories. Most people I know go to restaurants on occasion, as a treat.
Posted by: Ana | Feb 24, 2022 12:40:37 PM
Umm... it's "effect" not "affect"... if you are going to be a journalist, please please please brush up on your grammar. Thanks. http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules/affect-effect-grammar.html
Posted by: Nursing pajamas | Apr 26, 2021 2:39:21 AM
Great post! I love the topic, "calorie"...
Yeah i think it's a nice topic, especially as consumers. We should be aware of how much calorie we intake in our body for us to be safe and stay healthy.
Posted by: Nursing pajamas | Apr 26, 2021 2:43:59 AM
Great post! I love the topic, 'Calorie...'
Well i believe it's very important for us consumers to be aware how much calorie we intake in our body for us to be safe and stay healthy.
Posted by: Nursing pajamas | Apr 26, 2021 2:54:34 AM
I'm sorry i thought the first post didn't go through.