Transcript Calorie Labeling in New York City Restaurants: An Approach to Inform Consumers October 22, 2008 Gail P.

Calorie Labeling in
New York City
Restaurants:
An Approach to Inform
Consumers
October 22, 2008
Gail P. Goldstein, MPH
Deputy Director
CVD Prevention and Control Program
NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
New York City Adults Gained More than
10 Million Pounds over 2-Year Period
• ~173,500 adults became obese and > 73,000 were
newly diagnosed with diabetes from 2002 to 2004
• Obesity rates increased by 17% as opposed to 6%
nationally
• Diabetes rates increased by 17% as opposed to no
increase nationally
Van Wye G, Kerker BD, Matte T, Chamany S, Eisenhower D, Frieden TR, et al. Obesity
and diabetes in New York City, 2002 and 2004. Prev Chronic Dis 2008; 5(2).
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/apr/07_0053.htm.
NYC Approaches to
Battling Obesity
• Community Programs
• Policy
– SPARK, Shape Up,
– Daycare Regulations
School PE
– Calorie Labeling
– Healthy Bodegas,
– No junk food in
Health Bucks
government buildings
– Food & Fitness
– Public Procurement
Partnership
– Fruit & Vegetable
• Environmental
Access
– Shelf Labeling
– Built Environment
• Media Campaign
(Stairwells, Water
Access, Construction) – Read ‘em before you
Eat ‘em
– Parks
People Are Eating
Out More
Meals eaten away
from home are higher
in calorie
Source: Guthrie JF, Lin BH, Frazao E. Role of food
prepared away from home in the American diet, 1977-78
versus 1994-96: changes and consequences. J Nutr Educ
Behav. 2002;34(3):140-150.
Fast Food Associated with
Higher Caloric Intake & Obesity
• Fast food  higher calorie intake
– Adults: 205 more calories/day
– Children: 155 more calories/day
– At once/week, would lead to 3 pound weight
gain/year
• More fast food  higher BMI
– Higher BMI associated with children in families
that primarily eat fast food
– Among adolescents, more days of fast food
predicts increases in BMI
Most Consumers Underestimate
Calorie Content
2000
956 cal.
(58%)
796 cal.
(53%)
516 cal.
(44%)
1,660
1,500
1,350
Calories
1500
1000
704
834
704
463 cal.
(37%)
1,240
777
500
0
Chicken
Fajitas
Fettuccine
Alfredo
Patty Melt
and Fries
Estimated Calories
Hamburger
and Fries
Actual Calories
Burton S, Creyer EH, Kees J, Huggins K. 2006 & Backstrand J. Wootan MG. Young LR. Hurley J. , 1997
Nutrition Labeling
Influences Decisions
• 3/4 of U.S. adults report using
nutrition labels on packaged foods
• 1/2 of U.S. adults say nutrition
information influences their
purchasing
• When nutrition information for
menu items is readily available,
consumers choose high-calorie
items about 1/3 less often
NYC Calorie Labeling
Regulations Saga
December 2006 First regulation of calorie posting on menus in US
to be approved
June 2007 Lawsuit Filed by NYSRA
September 2007 Judicial decision
October 2007 Existing §81.50 Repealed
Modified §81.50 for Public Comment
January 2008 Board of Health Approved
February 2008 Lawsuit filed
April 15, 2008 Court rules in favor of calorie labeling
April 28, 2008 New lawsuit filed, Stay denied
May 2, 2008 Violations began
July 17, 2008 Large chains began posting
July 18, 2008 Fines began
NYC Calorie Labeling Regulation
• Round #1 - 2006 Rule - based on
voluntary disclosure. Judge ruled it
preempted but reaffirmed local
governments right to require posting
• Round #2 - 2008 Rule - applies to all
chains with >= 15 locations. NYSRA sues
again, judicial decision favorable for City,
appeal pending. The law is in effect.
Why Restaurant Chains in NYC?
• Serve food clearly associated with high
calorie intake and obesity
• Standardized preparation and portion size
make accurate calorie information feasible
to provide
• Disproportionate share of customer traffic
assures substantial public health impact
– 10% of restaurants serve 35% of NYC meals
What is in the law:
• Applies to all chains with > 15 locations
nationally
• Calories must be posted prominently on
menu boards and menus is association
with menu item
• Calories must be posted on item tags as
well where present
• Calories must be posted for combos
The Argument of
Menu Boards vs. Brochures
“the menu board is the single most valued piece
of real estate in a Burger King restaurant. It is
the most important way we communicate with
our customers in the store about the products
we offer and their price. It is what the customers
look at, and it is what stimulate their decision
to buy.” Hector Munoz of Burger King
2007 NYC DOHMH Fast Food Survey
• 11,835 diners at 275 restaurants in all five
boroughs representing 13 chains
• Conducted March-June 2007 as baseline prior
to implementation of Health Code Regulations
• Brief exit questionnaire:
– Did you purchase for you only?
– Did you see calorie information?
– Did you use it?
• Asked to provide receipt
Bassett MT, Dumanovsky T, Huang C, Silver LD, Young C, Nonas C, Matte T, Chideya S, Frieden TR. Purchasing
Behavior and Calorie Information at Fast-Food Chains in New York City, 2007. American Journal of Public Health,
2008;98:1457-1459.
Lots of Calories…
Little Information
• Except at Subway, only 4% of patrons
reported seeing calorie information as
provided in 2007
Does nutrition information on
a tray liner work?
According to our study, not as
much as fast food chains
would like you to believe.
Bassett MT, Dumanovsky T, Huang C, Silver LD, Young C, Nonas C, Matte T, Chideya S, Frieden TR. Purchasing
Behavior and Calorie Information at Fast-Food Chains in New York City, 2007. American Journal of Public Health,
2008;98:1457-1459.
1 out of 3 Lunchtime Purchases Had
More Than 1,000 Calories
>1,250 cal
(15%)
33%
<500 cal
(24%)
1,0001,249 cal
(18%)
750-999 cal
(21%)
500-749
cal
(23%)
Preliminary data from 7,308 customers purchasing for themselves only at 11 chains serving lunch
Calorie Information Makes a
Difference in Amount People Eat
Bassett MT, Dumanovsky T, Huang C, Silver LD, Young C, Nonas C, Matte T, Chideya S, Frieden TR. Purchasing
Behavior and Calorie Information at Fast-Food Chains in New York City, 2007. American Journal of Public Health,
2008;98:1457-1459.
Examples of Posted
Calorie Information
Auntie Anne’s Menu Board
July 2007
Subway Menu Board
July 2007
Most Covered FSE’s Have
Posted Calories
McDonald’s, July 21, 2008
NYC Now Has Calorie Information Posted!
Starbucks, 2008
Success Already…
“Some restaurants have had their own sticker
shock and started offering lighter options. Cosi had
a nutritionist look for ways to save on every item.
Switching to low fat mayo brought the Cosi Club
from more than 700 calories to 447…
“Having to post this information in New York
really focused us on paying attention as well”
says Chris Carroll, the chain’s chief marketing
officer”
- Wall Street Journal July 29, 2008
CALORIES MAKE THE NEWS…
The Shocking
Secrets of
ChainRestaurant
Calorie Counts
Dunkin' Donuts to offer healthier menu items
CALORIE-COP TIX ON THE MENU
Do Calories on the Menu
Make a Difference?
New York Gets Ready to Count Calories
Calorie Counts for Big
Macs, Burritos and More
Can Be Hard to Swallow
Estimated Impact of Calorie Posting
Regulation in NYC
• If calorie reduction in covered
FSEs is similar to Subway’s
reduction (50 calories per meal),
over the next 5 years:
– at least 150,000 fewer New
Yorkers would be obese, leading
to
– at least 30,000 fewer cases of
diabetes,
– and many other health benefits
‘Read ‘em before you eat ‘em’
Campaign Launched
For more information,
visit www.nyc.gov/calories
Gail P. Goldstein, MPH
Deputy Director
CVD Prevention and Control Program
NYC DOHMH
212-513-0522
[email protected]