Availability of point-of-purchase nutrition information at a fast-food restaurant.
OBJECTIVE
Given the link between eating out, poor diets, and obesity, we assessed the availability of point-of-purchase nutrition information at the largest fast-food restaurant in the U.S., McDonald's.


METHODS
In August 2004, we visited 29 of 33 (88%) of the McDonald's outlets in Washington, DC and visually inspected the premises, as well as asked cashiers or restaurant managers whether they had nutrition information available in the restaurant.


RESULTS
In Washington, DC, 59% of McDonald's outlets provided in-store nutrition information for the majority of their standard menu items. In 62% of the restaurants, it was necessary to ask two or more employees in order to obtain a copy of that information.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that even at the largest chain restaurant in the country, nutrition information at the point of decision-making is often difficult to find or completely absent.
Wootan
Margo G
MG
Center for Science in the Public Interest, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. mwootan@cspinet.org
Osborn
Melissa
M
Malloy
Claudia J
CJ
D003625:Data Collection; D030881:Disclosure; D004219:District of Columbia; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008612:Menu Planning; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012147:Restaurants / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data