title: Calorie postings in chain restaurants in a low-income urban neighborhood: measuring practical utility and policy compliance.
abstract: Current strategies for combating obesity include recent federal legislation mandating calorie count postings in chain restaurants. This study describes the current practice of menu board calorie postings in a low-income urban neighborhood, identifies the extent to which current practice complies with existing policy, and evaluates the practical utility of menu boards to consumers. We conclude that although most postings were legally compliant, they did not demonstrate utility. Menu postings for individual servings are easily understood, but complex math skills are needed to interpret meals designed to serve more than one person. In some items, calories doubled depending on flavor and the calorie posting did not give enough information to make healthier selections. We identified specific strategies to improve practical utility and provide recommendations for policy implementation.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA. ec2341@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth Gross
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: Elaine L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Olajide
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D011203:Poverty; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D014505:Urban Population