As for gauging the effectiveness of the calorie labeling laws in chain restaurants, the first results are in and they are not encouraging.  As reported online today in the journal  Health Affairs: the Policy Journal of the Health Sphere, researchers from New York University and Yale University checked the receipts of low-income and multi-ethnic consumers before the calorie labeling law went into effect in New York City in July 2008 and again four weeks later, after the law went into effect. The researchers did the same in Newark, New Jersey, a city without a calorie labeling law. They targeted four fast-food places where calories were listed prominently on menu boards, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC. 

 While about half the diners in New York City said they noticed the calorie counts and about a quarter said they were influenced by them, but the research showed that the calorie consumption actually went up after the calories were posted. The average meal consisted of 825 calories before the law went into effect and 846 calories after the law went into effect.  In Newark, the calorie-consumption stayed about the same over the same period of time—823 calories to 826.

So what gives? The researchers said their study showed that more education needed to accompany the calorie postings, given that it is so difficult to get people to change their eating habits.

I have a less scientific analysis. People who eat at fast food restaurants are influenced by the cost of food. Maybe the higher calorie food was less expensive. Or , perhaps in anticipation of losing customers to the calorie posting law, the chain dropped the prices of their higher calorie offerings to make them more appealing.

 These research results, which were based on a sample of 1,156 adults, are just the first course. Expect more news when the New York City health department releases its far larger study, which is due soon.