Eco-Focused Menu Labels on Full Meal Orders From Fast-Food Restaurants

What effects do ecolabel designs have on the healthfulness and environmental sustainability of full meal orders at 2 fast-food restaurants in a nationally representative sample?In this randomized clinical trial with 6210 adults in the US, the traffic-light label outperformed other label designs and the control label. The traffic-light label led to meal selections with 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions from a sandwich restaurant and 15% lower greenhouse gas emissions and slightly more healthful meals ordered from a burger restaurant compared to the control label.Traffic-light–style ecolabels may be an effective strategy to promote more sustainable choices from fast-food restaurants.

Corresponding Author: Julia A. Wolfson, PhD, MPP, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, E2531, Baltimore, MD 21205 (jwolfso7@jhu.edu).

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