Food Preferences, Food Selection, Obesity, Weight Gain
Conditions
Keywords
portion size, choice behavior, energy intake, food labeling
Brief summary
The goal of this this intervention is to test the degree to which a portion size labeling intervention influences consumer selection of smaller portions at two large cafés. The main question it aims to answer is: Do consumers order fewer calories when the portion size label for the smaller entree is called standard instead of small? Participants will order lunch as usual in the two cafes (one intervention, one control) for 5.5 months, and all order items will be recorded in the check-out system. One cafe will receive the labeling intervention, while the other will not. Researchers will compare the average calories per order between the two cafes to see if there are differences.
Detailed description
The investigators will work with two cafés that will start offering two size options for their entrées. The cafés will go through three phases: a baseline phase where there are two portion sizes and no intervention (6 weeks), an intervention phase where the portion size labeling strategy will be implemented (7 weeks), and then a final phase where the portion size intervention is removed (7 weeks). During the baseline period, the smaller-sized entrée will not receive a label, and the larger-sized entrée will be called Large. During the intervention period for the control café, labeling will stay the same, but in the intervention café, the smaller size will be labeled Standard and the larger size will be called Large. In the post-intervention period, the smaller-sized entrée in the intervention café will have no label so that it resembles the control café.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALIntervention Standard
The two cafes will offer entrees in two sizes, a smaller and larger size. In the intervention cafe, the smaller size will be labeled Standard during the intervention period, and Small during all other times. In the control cafe, the smaller size will always be labeled Small. The larger size will always be labeled Large for both cafes during the duration of the study.
Sponsors
Restaurant Associates
University of Pennsylvania
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Entrees are offered in two different portion sizes at two cafes. The cafes were randomized to either receive the Standard portion label for the smaller size (Intervention) or the Small portion label for the smaller size (Control). The larger portion was labeled Large. Daily lunch transaction data will be provided by the cafes.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* All customers who make a lunch purchase at the cafes
Exclusion criteria
* Purchases made outside of lunch service.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Average kcal per entree sold | Daily sales data for 5.5 months | The primary outcome will be the average kcal per entrée purchased. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of entrée units purchased | Daily sales data for 5.5 months | Analyzing the number of entrée units purchased will enable the investigators to assess the impact of the intervention on entree sales. |
| Total kcal per transaction | Daily sales data for 5.5 months | This will allow the investigators to examine whether participants who ordered a reduced-sized entrée were ordering more calories in other parts of the meal (i.e., a dessert). |
| Weekly gross sales | Daily sales data for 5.5 months | This will allow the investigators to assess whether the addition of a reduced-sized entrée at a lower cost negatively affected lunch service revenue. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed