Nutrition labels on fast food 'won't stop you eating unhealthily'

Making fast food chains print nutritional facts on the packaging of burgers, fries and other fat laden products does not make an ounce of difference to diners' choices, according to new research.

A 13-month study of restaurants after mandatory labelling legislation was brought in found customer tastes remained just the same.

Professor Eric Finkelstein, of Duke-National University of Singapore, said: 'Given the results of prior studies, we had expected the results to be small, but we were surprised we could not detect even the slightest hint of changes in purchasing behaviour as a result of the legislation.

Right choice? Mandatory labelling of fast food products did not stop consumers eating them, a survey found

'The results suggest mandatory menu labelling, unless combined with other interventions, may be unlikely to significantly influence the obesity epidemic.'

As part of a comprehensive effort to stem the rise in obesity King County in Washington, which includes Seattle and surrounding areas, brought in the regulation on all restaurant chains with 15 or more outlets from January, 2009.

Restaurants had to disclose calorie information at the point of purchase. Some companies in the UK, including McDonald's, now print facts including the fat, salt, calorie and carbohydrate content of its foods to help people make healthy choices.

But Prof Finkelstein and his colleagues monitored a chain of Mexican restaurants called Taco Time for just over a year and found there was no difference in the eating habits of diners at those situated in King County and those who used ones outside the area where the rule was introduced.

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The total number of sales and average calories per transaction were unaffected by the menu labelling, reports the American Journal for Preventive Medicine.

As part of health care reform, the US government is planning a nationwide launch of mandatory nutrition information at the point of purchase for fast-food chains with twenty or more outlets.

Study co-author Kiersten Strombotne said: 'However, it may be that detailed nutritional information is not the best way to convey the health content of fast foods.

'For example, if you know a store offers diet and regular soda, does showing how many calories are in regular soda really offer any relevant information? Those who want a lower calorie drink already know to drink the diet soda.'

Prof Finkelstein said the lack of effects at Taco Time may be because the restaurant was already identifying the healthier options via 'healthy highlights' logos on the menu board before the legislation went into effect.

He said: 'A simple logo identifying which foods are healthiest may be all it takes to convey that information to those consumers who wish to choose a healthier alternative. The additional information appears not to have made a difference.'

Prof Finkelstein pointed out that the obesity epidemic continued to increase in the US after the Nutrition Facts Panel was required nationally for pre-packaged foods.

He suggested further studies should be done to quantify which sources of information are most likely to encourage consumers to switch to healthier options.

But Prof Finkelstein added that such information would be too late for the US Food and Drug Administration to use because its regulations on fast-food menu labelling are due out by March 23.