A landmark randomized controlled trial involving nearly 4,000 US adults has provided compelling evidence that warning labels on restaurant menus can substantially reduce added sugar orders. Conducted by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and New York University between March and August 2024, the study found a 31% reduction in added sugar orders when warning labels were present compared to standard menus.
The research tested three menu conditions, comparing standard menus against those featuring text-only warnings and icon-plus-text warnings with a red triangle symbol. Notably, the icon-based approach proved more effective, achieving a 35% reduction compared to 28% for text-only warnings. The findings carry significant public health implications, as implementing such labeling policies nationally could prevent thousands of diabetes and obesity cases while maintaining customer satisfaction and restaurant revenue.
Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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