Impact of calorie labeling on menus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Impact of calorie labeling on menus - Essay Example It is unlikely that posting the amount of calories that are in food while have a strong impact on diet or they health decisions for the majority of consumers. Some people may have been genuinely unaware of how unhealthy some of the food they were eating was, and as a consequence make a choice towards better eating. However, it is likely that people who do this will be in the minority.There are many different factors which control why consumers purchase different products, with price being only one of these. Other factors include the convenience, the price and the taste. Much of the food that is bought from chain restaurants such as McDonalds and Burger King is bought because consumers desire food that is fast and inexpensive. A study on the effect of showing the calories on menus at McDonalds showed that there was no significant difference in the calorie content of the meals that were brought before and after the changes to the menu were made (Harnack et al. 2008). Another study showed that the inclusion of calorie information on fast food menus in Seattle had no effect on consumption (Consumer Affairs 2011). Often at chain restaurants, the price of the food is directly related to the health, with food that is lower in calories generally being more expensive. Because of this, it is unlikely that making consumers more aware will change their eating habits, as the factors of price and convenience are likely to be more relevant than health.