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Testing Non-Nutrition Menu Labels on Food Selections
Sponsor: 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.
Official title: Testing Non-Nutrition Menu Labels on Food Selections: A Nationally Representative Online Survey Experiment in Two Fast-Food Restaurants
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
7000
Start Date
2026-04-13
Completion Date
2026-05-21
Last Updated
2026-05-19
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Control (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).
Low 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).
High 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).
Environmental Harm Traffic Light 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 Traffic Light 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).
Environmental Grade 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 Grade 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).
Locations (1)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, Maryland, United States