Menu-labelling schemes are now in place in most Australian states. These require fast-food chains to list the calorie content of standard menu items both in-store and online. The aim is to encourage people to make healthier choices. So, is it having the desired effect?

A 2018 Australian study found that seeing the calorie count displayed at the point of ordering led consumers to choose meals with fewer calories, and that this effect was greater among those who were overweight. However, a 2019 study from the US – where menu calorie labelling is required nationwide for chain restaurants – found that calorie listings only led to health-conscious consumers ordering lower-calorie items.

Those who valued taste and/or quantity were actually likely to order items that contained more calories. Other studies have found that calorie labelling has made little to no difference to how much people order or eat when they dine out. 

The practice doesn’t seem to be having an impact on the restaurants themselves, either: a study of menu items at five fast food chains since the introduction of menu labelling in NSW in 2012 found no significant reduction in calorie content of menu items. 

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Critics of the scheme also warn that displaying calorie counts on menus can lead to people – particularly young people – developing an unhealthy relationship with food. Further, it may trigger or exacerbate disordered eating. 

This issue has once again been brought under scrutiny in recent weeks, as the Scottish government considers proposals to introduce nationwide calorie listings in cafes, restaurants, canteens and even vending machines. Government agency Public Health Scotland has released a report which states “For those with a history of eating disorders, seeing calorie information could lead to heightened anxiety, negative body image and a resurgence of disordered eating behaviours.”

UK eating disorder charity Beat goes further, calling the proposals “dangerous”. 

Whether calorie labelling is effective, ineffective or harmful, it appears to be here to stay. Health organisations such as the Heart Foundation, Diabetes Australia and Cancer Council Australia all strongly support it. So, the next time you visit a fast-food chain, ask yourself – has the calorie labelling influenced your meal choice?

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