Menu Label Noticeability

Restaurant Menu Study: Label Noticeability

To assess the relative noticeability of the following added-sugar menu label elements using a factorial experiment: label type (icon-only vs. icon-plus-text label vs. boxed icon), color (black vs. red), size (100% vs. 150% of the height of the menu item text), and placement (left vs. right side of item).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Noticing Nutrition Information; Recalling Nutrition Information
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Menu label

Detailed Description

The objective of this aim is to assess the relative noticeability of legally-viable added-sugar menu label characteristics. The investigators will use a between-subject experiment with a factorial design. Participants will be randomized to label type (icon-only vs. icon-plus-text label vs. boxed icon), color (black vs. red), size (100% vs. 150% of the height of the menu item text), and placement (left vs. right side of item). This results in 24 arms of the experiment.

The primary outcomes are noticing a nutrition label and recognition of the label. Secondary outcomes are knowledge of items that are high in added sugar and perceived message effectiveness (PME) of labels.

For dichotomous outcomes (e.g., noticing the label, recalling label meaning), the investigators will directly estimate the probability ratio using Poisson regression with a robust error variance, regressing the outcome on an indicator for the level of the factor. For continuous outcomes (e.g., knowledge, PME scale), the investigators will use linear regression models regressing the outcome on an indicator for experimental condition.

A critical alpha 0.05 will be used, and statistical tests will be two-tailed. Exploratory outcomes include selection of ≥1 item high in added sugar and grams of sugar ordered from each menu, analyzed using the methods described above. The investigators will also explore proportions or means for the following process measures about reactions to the warning labels: Perception that the labels grabbed attention and support for an added sugars warning label policy. Additionally, the investigators will explore differences in the primary outcomes between each of the 24 unique conditions. If there is evidence of interactions between label elements, investigators will modify the modeling approach to account for those interactions (e.g., using interaction terms and stratified models).The investigators will use multiple testing corrections for families of outcomes (primary and secondary).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 4581
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Davis, California, United States, 95616
      • University of California, Davis

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Equal or greater than 18 years of age-
• Less than 100 years of age
• English-speaking
• U.S. residents
• Participants will reflect the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and age

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failing the attention check question
• Completing the survey in less than 33% of the median completion time

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

24

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Left, black, icon only, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored black, icon only design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, black, icon plus text, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored black, icon plus text design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, black, boxed icon, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored black, boxed icon design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, black, icon only, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored black, icon only design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, black, icon plus text, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored black, icon plus text design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, black, boxed icon, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored black, boxed icon design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, red, icon only, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored red, icon only design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, red, icon plus text, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored red, icon plus text design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, red, boxed icon, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored red, boxed icon design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, red, icon only, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored red, icon only design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, red, icon plus text, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored red, icon plus text design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, red, boxed icon, 100% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored red, boxed icon design, and height that is 100% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, black, icon only, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored black, icon only design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, black, icon plus text, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored black, icon plus text design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, black, icon only, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored black, icon only design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, black, icon plus text, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored black, icon plus text design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, red, icon only, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored red, icon only design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, red, icon plus text, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored red, icon plus text design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, red, icon only, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored red, icon only design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, red, icon plus text, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored red, icon plus text design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, red, boxed icon, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored red, boxed icon design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Left, black, boxed icon, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the left of the item, colored black, boxed icon design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, red, boxed icon, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored red, boxed icon design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group
Experimental: Right, black, boxed icon, 150% height; Participant will order meals from two menus containing labels next to items high in added sugars (exceeding half the daily value). The label will be on the right of the item, colored black, boxed icon design, and height that is 150% of size of the menu text height.	Other: Menu label; Participants will select food items from two restaurant menus, displayed with labels as specified by their assigned group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Noticing and recall of added-sugar nutrient label - dichotomous variable "Correct" (Answered "Yes" to noticing, answered "Added sugars" to recall, and answered "high" for high low recall question) or "Incorrect" (otherwise)	Noticing a nutrition label - Measured with "Think back to the beginning of this survey when you imagined you were ordering dinner from restaurant menus. Did you notice any nutrition labels (other than the calories) next to any of the menu items?" Response options are "Yes", "No", and "Don't know". Recalling the label's meaning - [If answered "Yes"] Measured with "What did the nutrition label tell you about?" Response options are (displayed in survey in a random order) "Sodium", "Added sugars", "Trans fats", "Fiber", "Calcium", "Healthy items", "Unhealthy items", "Vegetarian", "Organic", "Gluten-free", "Sustainable", "None of these", "Not sure". High/low - [If answered "Added sugars"] "What did the label tell you about added sugars?" Response options are "High in added sugars", "Low in added sugars", "Something else", "I don't know". There is no formal name for this measure/scale.	up to approximately 1 minute
Recognition of label - dichotomous variable "Correct" (selected the label they were assigned to" or "Incorrect" (any other option).	Measured with "Please look at the following labels and select which label (if any) you saw on the menus while selecting your food and beverage items." Response options will include images of 7 labels with the designs based on the participant's assigned color (black vs red) and label type (icon-only vs. boxed-icon vs, boxed icon-plus-text label) and the options, "Not sure" and "None of these". There is no formal name for this measure/scale. It was developed for this study.	up to approximately 1 minute

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knowledge of menu items high in added sugar - continuous variable using the percent of 8 items correctly classified	Measured with "(While viewing menu excerpt) Click on the menu items that you think have more than half the daily limit for added sugars." Higher percents of items correctly classified represent more knowledge.	up to approximately 2 minutes
Perceived Message Effectiveness of label - continuous variable based on a 3-item scale in which each item uses a 1-5 response scale	Measured with 3-item University of North Carolina Perceived Message Effectiveness Scale: "How much does this label make you concerned about the health effects of consuming menu items high in added sugars?", "How much does this label makes consuming menu items high in added sugars seem unpleasant?", and "How much does this label discourage you from wanting to consume menu items high in added sugars?". Response options include a 1-5 scale where higher values represent higher amounts of the construct.	up to approximately 2 minutes

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Selection of at least one item high in added sugar	Exploratory outcome, dichotomous - "Yes" (ordered at least one item high in added sugar) or "No" (did not order any items high in added sugar), analyzed using Poisson regression to examine differences between factor levels	up to approximately 2 minutes
Grams of sugar ordered	Exploratory outcome, continuous - total grams of sugar in menu items selected, analyzed using linear regression to examine differences between factor levels	up to approximately 2 minutes
Perception that the labels grabbed attention	Exploratory outcome, continuous - 1-5 Likert scale, descriptive analysis of proportions and means to examine differences between factor levels	up to approximately 1 minute
Support for an added sugars warning label policy	Exploratory outcome, continuous - 1-5 Likert scale, descriptive analysis of proportions and means to examine differences between factor levels	up to approximately 1 minute

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, Davis
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jennifer Falbe, ScD, MPH, University of California, Davis

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): March 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 27, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 2, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 12, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 5, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 1641776-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No