Do non-nutrition menu labels help adults pick healthier fast-food meals?
A randomized-controlled evaluation of the effects of non-nutrition menu labels on dietary quality
This project tests whether labels like 'local', 'gluten-free', or 'grown in the USA' on fast-food menus help adults choose healthier meals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11381712 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you may be asked to order from participating fast-food restaurants while the menus display different non-nutrition labels and have your choices recorded. The researchers will run two back-to-back randomized trials comparing menus with various labels to see how they change what people pick and how much red or processed meat they eat. They will also watch for a possible 'health-halo' effect where labels make unhealthy items seem healthier. The goal is to find label designs that make it easier for people to choose healthier options in real-world settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who regularly eat fast food and are willing to have their orders and choices recorded or tracked, including people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Not a fit: People who rarely eat fast food, cannot visit participating restaurants, are under age limits, or whose dietary needs are unrelated to menu labels may not see benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead restaurants and policymakers to use menu labels that help people choose healthier fast-food options and reduce diet-related disease risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows nutrition labels can change choices, but evidence on non-nutrition labels is limited and mixed, making this real-world randomized approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolfson, Julia a — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Wolfson, Julia a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.