Evaluating the association between the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling and energy consumed using observational data from the out-of-home food sector in England

Megan Polden (), Andrew Jones, Michael Essman, Jean Adams, Tom R. P. Bishop, Thomas Burgoine, Stephen J. Sharp, Martin White, Richard Smith, Aisling Donohue, Rozemarijn Witkam, I. Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra, Jane Brealey and Eric Robinson
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Megan Polden: University of Liverpool
Andrew Jones: Liverpool John Moores University
Michael Essman: University of Cambridge
Jean Adams: University of Cambridge
Tom R. P. Bishop: University of Cambridge
Thomas Burgoine: University of Cambridge
Stephen J. Sharp: University of Cambridge
Martin White: University of Cambridge
Richard Smith: University of Exeter
Aisling Donohue: Liverpool John Moores University
Rozemarijn Witkam: University of Liverpool
I. Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra: University of Liverpool
Jane Brealey: University of Liverpool
Eric Robinson: University of Liverpool

Nature Human Behaviour, 2025, vol. 9, issue 2, 277-286

Abstract: Abstract In April 2022, mandatory kilocalorie (kcal) labelling in the out-of-home food sector was introduced as a policy to reduce obesity in England. Here we examined whether the implementation of this policy was associated with a consumer behaviour change. Large out-of-home food sector outlets subject to kcal labelling legislation were visited pre- and post-implementation, and customer exit surveys were conducted with 6,578 customers from 330 outlets. Kcals purchased and consumed, knowledge of purchased kcals and reported noticing and use of kcal labelling were examined. The results suggested that the introduction of the mandatory kcal labelling policy in England was not associated with a significant decrease in self-reported kcals purchased (B = 11.31, P = 0.564, 95% confidence interval (CI) −27.15 to 49.77) or consumed (B = 18.51, P = 0.279, 95% CI −15.01 to 38 52.03). Post-implementation, participants underestimated the energy content of their purchased meal less (B = 61.21, P = 0.002, 95% CI 21.57 to 100.86) and were more likely to report noticing (odds ratio 2.25, P

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02032-1

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