Testing Non-Nutrition Menu Labels on Food Selections: A Nationally Representative Online Survey Experiment in Two Fast-Food Restaurants
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Summary
The primary objective of this study is to test the relative effects of environmental harm menu label designs on the healthfulness of consumers' fast-food meal choices. Participants will complete hypothetical online meal ordering tasks using a survey which emulates the online menus of two types of fast-food chain restaurants: a burger restaurant and a sandwich restaurant. Participants will be randomized the view both menus, presented in random order, with one of five labeling conditions applied. Secondary objectives include energy and nutrient content of meals ordered, prices of meals ordered, and, through a post-order survey, noticeability of the labels and perceptions of labels between the conditions.
Description
This online randomized trial will test the relative effects of environmental harm menu label designs on the healthfulness of consumers' fast-food meal choices and perceptions of menu items. The survey research firm Verasight will recruit a nationally representative sample of 7,000 adults aged 18 years and older who speak English and reside in the United States from their survey panel. Participants will complete a between-subjects online experiment in which the participants will be randomized to view two fast-food online ordering menus (in randomized order) with one of five labeling schemes ap…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Member of the Verasight Panel * Residing in the United States Exclusion Criteria: * \<18 years of age * Not residing in the United States * Completed the survey in less than one-third of the median completion duration of all participants * Respondents with high refusal rates (skipped or refused more than 50% of questions) * Respondents who 'straight-line' all question grids with 6 or more items, where responses are not internally consistent
Interventions
- BehavioralControl (QR) Labels
Participants will view two fast-food restaurant menus presented in a random order. Each menu will include main, side, dessert, and drink items, and each menu item will be displayed with an image of the item, name, price, and total calories. For main items only, Control (QR) labels will be displayed beneath each item. Participants will be instructed to select at least 1 and up to 4 menu items for a hypothetical meal order. Participants will be required to select a main item and, optionally, up to 3 additional items (drinks, sides, desserts).
- BehavioralLow Environmental Harm Labels
Participants will view two fast-food restaurant menus presented in a random order. Each menu will include main, side, dessert, and drink items, and each menu item will be displayed with an image of the item, name, price, and total calories. For main items only, Low Environmental Harm labels will be displayed beneath a subset of items. Participants will be instructed to select at least 1 and up to 4 menu items for a hypothetical meal order. Participants will be required to select a main item and, optionally, up to 3 additional items (drinks, sides, desserts).
- BehavioralHigh Environmental Harm Labels
Participants will view two fast-food restaurant menus presented in a random order. Each menu will include main, side, dessert, and drink items, and each menu item will be displayed with an image of the item, name, price, and total calories. For main items only, Environmental Harm labels will be displayed beneath select items. Participants will be instructed to select at least 1 and up to 4 menu items for a hypothetical meal order. Participants will be required to select a main item and, optionally, up to 3 additional items (drinks, sides, desserts).
Location
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimore, Maryland