The information in this resource is intended only to provide educational information. This profile describes the estimated benefits, activities, resources, and leadership needed to implement a strategy to improve child health. This information can be useful for planning and prioritization purposes.
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Require fast-food chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationally to list calories for standard menu items on in-store and drive-thru menu boards along with succinct statements concerning suggested daily caloric intake (implemented in 2018).
What population benefits?
All youth and adults ages 2 years and older.
What are the estimated benefits?
Relative to not implementing the strategy
Decrease daily energy intake and, in turn, promote healthy weight.
What activities and resources are needed?
| Activities | Resources | Who Leads? |
| Manage rollout of restaurant calorie menu labeling and communicate policy change to restaurant chains | • Time of Food and Drug Administration to manage rollout | Food and Drug Administration |
| Review rule requirements | • Time for legal analyst to review rule requirements
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Restaurant chain |
| Analyze nutrient content for each menu item | • Cost of analyzing menu items by entering recipes in a nutrition database | Restaurant chain |
| Replace menus and menu boards to comply with policy | • Cost of designing new menus (if applicable) • Cost of menu and menu board replacement |
Restaurant chain |
| Monitor compliance with menu labeling policy | • Time of public health department inspectors to monitor compliance | Local public health department |
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dupuis R, Block JP, Barrett JL, Long MW, Petimar J, Ward ZJ, Kenney EL, Musicus AA, Cannuscio CC, Williams DR, Bleich SN, Gortmaker SL. Cost-Effectiveness of Calorie Labeling at Large Fast-Food Chains Across the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2024 Jan 66(1):128-137. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2023.08.012.
- Explore and compare this strategy with other strategies on the CHOICES National Action Kit.
Suggested Citation
CHOICES Strategy Profile: Fast-Food Restaurant Calorie Labeling (2018). CHOICES Project Team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; September 2023.
Funding
This work is supported by The JPB Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U48DP006376). The information provided here is intended to be used for educational purposes. Links to other resources and websites are intended to provide additional information aligned with this educational purpose. The findings and conclusions are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other funders.
Adapted from the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication) Checklist