Rationale and evidence for menu-labeling legislation.
Menu-labeling legislation is a proposed public health intervention for poor diet and obesity that requires chain restaurants to provide nutrition information on menus and menu boards. The restaurant industry has strongly opposed menu-labeling legislation. Using scientific evidence, this paper counters industry arguments against menu labeling by demonstrating that consumers want chain restaurant nutrition information to be disclosed; the current methods of providing nutrition information are inadequate; the expense of providing nutrition information is minimal; the government has the legal right to mandate disclosure of information; consumers have the right to know nutrition information; a lack of information reduces the efficiency of a market economy; and menu labeling has the potential to make a positive public health impact.
Roberto
Christina A
CA
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. christina.roberto@yale.edu
Schwartz
Marlene B
MB
Brownell
Kelly D
KD
D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011634:Public Health; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States