Do Sustainability Labels Lead to More Sustainable and Healthier Food Choices?

Do Sustainability Labels Lead to More Sustainable and Healthier Food Choices?

This study tests the effect of two climate change menu labels, one indicating 'low climate impact' and the other indicating 'high climate impact' on ordering choices and perceptions of healthfulness of food ordered in an online randomized experiment.

The objective of this study is to examine how climate impact menu labels influence US adults' ordering and perceptions via an online randomized experiment. Participants were randomized to view one of 3 fast food menus online and then choose an item that they would like to order. One menu 'control' had QR code labels, the second had "low climate impact" labels on items with lower greenhouse gas emissions (vegetarian, chicken or fish items), the third had "high climate impact" labels on beef items. After the ordering task participants answered questions about what label they saw on the menu, how healthy they thought the item they ordered was, and how much the label discouraged them from eating high climate impact items.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Member of the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) Amerispeak Panel

Exclusion Criteria:

• <18 years of age
• completed the survey in < 1/3 of the median duration
• skipped or refused more than 50% of the survey questions