Does displaying nutritional information in fast food restaurants impact consumers ?

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Does displaying nutritional information in fast food restaurants impact consumers ?

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Nutritional information, fast food restaurants, consumers, Western societies food, poor nutritional choices, fast food meals

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Abstract

In Western societies food is usually readily available, but poor nutritional choices have been linked to poor health as well as to such things as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Often these choices involve fast food. (NHS Choices, undated):-
The observed association between the number of fast-food outlets with obesity and type 2 diabetes does not come as a surprise; fast-food is high in total fat, trans-fatty acids and sodium, portion sizes have increased two to fivefold over the last 50 years and a single fast-food meal provides approximately 1,400 calories. Furthermore, fast-food outlets often provide sugar-rich drinks (Carter, 2014, cited by The Guardian).

Introduction
1. Background
2. Justification for choosing this topic
3. Aims
Literature search
Methodology
1. Methods
2. Secondary data
3. Primary data
4. Combination of questionnaires and interviews
5. Focus group
6. Primary data collection
7. Analysis
8. Dealing with the results
9. Emerged themes
10. Use of government papers
11. Reliability of the study
12. Validity
13. Generalization
14. Limitations and further research
Analysis and discussion

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Extract

[...] 1. less often than once a week 2. At least once a week 3. More often than once a week Do you think fast food is a healthy choice? 1. Yes 2. No 3. Unsure Is being healthy important to you? 1. [...]

[...] Education of consumers through calorie menu labelling and other outreach efforts might reduce the large degree of underestimation. So most researchers considered in this study suggest that even if nutritional information is provided by fast food chains, it would have a low impact on the regular consumers of fast food. The change in attitude towards fast food consumption requires change from within the fast food sector itself. They must consider serving healthier options of food and snacks, and they must do so right across the industry. [...]

[...] Within the United Kingdom 35% of adults already regularly read the nutritional information displayed on food packaging and roughly the same number are aware of their personal daily calorie intake. The Food Standards Agency survey of 2010 is cited by the writer. The results showed that 85% of consumers wanted food outlets such as restaurants, pubs and cafes to make it clear what the food they serve contains. So it seems that consumers are aware of what is required, but are not necessarily willing to act upon the knowledge available. [...]

[...] do not display such information at the point of sale. Part of the question about nutritional information is concerned with information on packaging. Chandon and Wansink (2006) found that measuring the impact of accurate labelling on consumer purchase behaviour was highly complex. In some studies it is observed that providing consumers with the right calorie information has resulted in the reduction of their net fast food intake and many individuals shifted to healthier meals. On the other hand it was observed in some studies that there wasn't any potential difference in the calorie intake of individuals even after they were provided with suitable nutritional information (Witkowski, 2007). [...]

[...] This document will look into how the displaying of accurate nutritional information in these restaurants affects the kind of food people choose. This topic is of interest because fast food places are all around us, and obviously play a very important place in British life, both nutritionally and socially, but also economically. There is also an increasing problem within the country with obesity and the onset of weight related illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as can be seen in the 2013 survey of prevalence and trends (Public Health England, 2013). [...]

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