Calorie Posting in Chain Restaurants

This Stanford University study tracked Starbucks customers’ purchases by caloric intake between January 2008 and February 2009 to determine whether menu labeling altered the number of calories consumed at the restaurant.

The study used a survey designed to measure consumers’ change in caloric consumption as a result of menu labeling at Starbucks restaurants in New York. The results of the study suggested that consumers’ purchases saw a 6% decrease in number of calories, which was attributed to a decreased number of items purchased more than to purchasing smaller sized items. The menu labeling is also correlated with an increase in revenue for the Starbucks restaurant under study, located near a Dunkin Donuts.

Read the study.