A New York City law requiring restaurants to post the calories of their menu items led Starbucks customers to consume 6 percent fewer calories per transaction, a Stanford University study found.
For people who averaged more than 250 calories per purchase, calorie consumption fell by a more dramatic 26 percent, the study said.
Calories per transaction fell on average to 232 from 247, the study found. The impact was almost entirely on food choices, not beverages, said the authors, who persuaded Starbucks to provide them with sales data enabling them to observe every transaction from January 2008 to February 2009.
"There is no impact on Starbucks profit on average, and for the subset of stores located close to their competitor Dunkin’ Donuts, the effect of calorie posting is actually to increase Starbucks revenue," said the study dated January 2010.
With U.S. obesity rates on the rise, New York required chain restaurants to post calorie counts in 2008. Several other states have followed and there is legislation before the U.S. Congress, said the study by researchers Bryan Bollinger, Phillip Leslie and Alan Sorensen.
U.S. obesity rates rose to 26.6 percent in 2008 from 15.9 percent in 1995, according to a 2009 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Calorie postings trim Starbucks calorie consumption | Reuters
I can tell you that it’s had me ordering a size down and holding the whip. And don’t even get me started on it’s impact on my Cheesecake Factory visits.
@Cass – I’ll be glad when all restaurants post calorie data! I was in a Starbucks a few days ago and the woman picking up her drink in front of me had a big tall cup, whip cream and caramel on top. I hate to think how man calories that one drink had.
Its always a shock to fine out how many calories something you enjoy really has…..I would love to know what the calorie data and the fat content too in my favorite eating places,for the most part I order salmon, but sometimes I crave a big plate of something really cheesy like notchos… LOl!!!
Diane
.-= Diane ( Crafty Passions)´s last blog ..Goodbye Christmas I Will Miss You =-.
Seems like we have a long ways to go, there are plenty of people who could not care less how their food is produced and what goes into it, let alone how many calories it has.
But obviously progress is being made, and that’s great.
Thanks for visiting my blog. My wife and I are going shopping today in Brighton and Howell.
Wonder how Tim Horton’s would fare with their coffee products. There’s one just down the road from us and we go there quite a bit, just for regular coffee though. No caramel, chocolate or whipped cream. I must confess though that I did try one of those McDonalds mocha frappes over the holidays and that sure was delicious. Don’t tell me the calorie count though. I don’t want to know.
It’s a small step, but it’s something anyway. I am encouraged by the spread of more natural foods type fast food places. Maybe people will finally think before they eat.
.-= Keli´s last blog ..Stupidity, UCLA, Seniors and Looking Upward =-.
Great post, I love this blog.