Food PreferencesNCT05592340
Restaurant Menu Carbon Footprint Labeling
A study testing Exposure to calorie information and Exposure to carbon footprint information in people with Food Preferences, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This online randomized clinical trial will test the effects of restaurant menu carbon footprint labels on consumers' choices and perceptions of restaurant menu items. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Food Preferences
- What is being tested?
- Exposure to calorie information and Exposure to carbon footprint information
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 2,389 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Nov 2022to 1 Dec 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- US adults aged 18 or older
Who cannot join
- Younger than 18
- Non-US
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
About this study
Official title: Impact of Restaurant Menu Carbon Footprint Labeling on Consumers Purchase Intentions and Perceptions
This online randomized clinical trial will test the effects of restaurant menu carbon footprint labels on consumers' choices and perceptions of restaurant menu items.
Read the detailed description
This online randomized clinical trial will test the effects of restaurant menu carbon footprint labels on consumers' choices and perceptions of restaurant menu items. Participants will be randomized to see a restaurant menu with one of two labeling schemes: 1) Control: calorie labels only; 2) Carbon footprint labels in addition to calorie labels. Participants will be instructed to select an entree to hypothetically order from an online restaurant menu. After selecting, they will be asked to answer questions about their perceptions of menu items and carbon footprint labels.The primary outcome will be the average carbon footprint of menu items chosen from the online menu.
- Conditions
- Food Preferences
- Being tested
- Exposure to calorie information, Exposure to carbon footprint information
- Keywords
- food labeling, carbon footprint, dietary sustainability, eating, choice behavior
- Medical subject headings
- Food Preferences
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exposure to calorie informationBehavioural
Calories for all foods and beverages
Exposure to carbon footprint informationBehavioural
Carbon footprint labels for all foods and beverages
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Active comparator | Calorie labels shown on online restaurant menu Receives: Behavioral: Exposure to calorie information |
| Carbon footprint labels | Experimental | Carbon footprint labels shown on online restaurant menu next to every item in addition to calorie labels Receives: Behavioral: Exposure to calorie information; Behavioral: Exposure to carbon footprint information |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Carbon footprint of selected menu item
Participants will select a menu item to purchase from the online restaurant menu. Outcome is carbon footprint of selected item.
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Secondary outcomes (20)
Calories in selected menu item
Participants will select a menu item to purchase from the online restaurant menu. Outcome is calorie content of selected item.
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived enjoyment of high-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to a great deal (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived enjoyment of low-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to a great deal (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived likelihood to order high-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all likely (1) to extremely likely (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived likelihood to order low-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all likely (1) to extremely likely (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived healthfulness of high-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all healthy (1) to extremely healthy (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived healthfulness of low-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all healthy (1) to extremely healthy (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Estimated calories in high-carbon-footprint menu item
Open response variable
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Estimated calories in low-carbon-footprint menu item
Open response variable
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived carbon footprint of high-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured with three multiple choice options: larger, smaller, or about the same carbon footprint compared to the typical menu item's carbon footprint
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived carbon footprint of low-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured with three multiple choice options: larger, smaller, or about the same carbon footprint compared to the typical menu item's carbon footprint
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived lowering of carbon footprint for high-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to a great deal (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived lowering of carbon footprint for low-carbon-footprint menu item
This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to a great deal (5)
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Noticing carbon footprint labels
Participants will respond "yes," "no," or "I don't know" to the item: "Think back to the beginning of this survey. When you were looking at the Just Salad menu, did you notice any labels (other than calorie information or price) next to or beneath the food items?"
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Label influence
If participants responded "yes" to noticing labels, they will respond to "How did the label alone (not the calorie information or price) influence what you chose to order, if at all? The label…" with three options: more likely, less likely, or no effect
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived Message Effectiveness of labels
Three items averaged together:
How much does this label discourage you from wanting to eat foods with a larger carbon footprint? [1-5: Not at all, very little, somewhat, quite a bit, a great deal]
How much does this label make you concerned about the environmental effects of eating foods that have a larger carbon footprint? [1-5: Not at all, very little, somewhat, quite a bit, a great deal]
How much does this label make eating foods with a larger carbon footprint seem unpleasant to you? [1-5: Not at all, very little, somewhat, quite a bit, a great deal]
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Believability of labels
Item: How much do you believe this label? [1-5: Not at all, very little, somewhat, quite a bit, a great deal]
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Learned from labels
Item: To what extent did you learn something new from this label? [1-5: Not at all, very little, somewhat, quite a bit, a great deal]
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Talk about labels with others
Item: How likely are you to talk about this label with others? [Likert scale from not at all likely (1) to extremely likely (5)]
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Understand the labels
Item: How easy or difficult was it to understand this label? [Likert scale from very easy (1) to extremely difficult (5)]
Measured: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Oct 2022
- Study start3 Nov 2022
- Primary completion1 Dec 2022
- Study completion1 Dec 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Food PreferencesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PennsylvaniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to see a restaurant menu with one of two labeling schemes: 1) Control: calorie labels only; 2) Carbon footprint labels in addition to calorie labels. Participants will be instructed to select an entree to hypothetically order from the online restaurant menu. We will record participants' selections and match these to nutrition and carbon footprint information.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 2,389 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Christina Roberto, PHD, University of Pennsylvania
- Investigators
- Christina A Roberto, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Pennsylvania
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05592340
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 849162
- Status last verified
- Dec 2022
- First submitted
- 19 Oct 2022
- Last updated
- 28 Dec 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Dec 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of Restaurant Menu Carbon Footprint Labeling on Consumers Purchase Intentions and Perceptions
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05592340
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 849162
- Conditions
- Food Preferences
- Keywords
- food labeling, carbon footprint, dietary sustainability, eating, choice behavior
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 2,389 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This online randomized clinical trial will test the effects of restaurant menu carbon footprint labels on consumers' choices and perceptions of restaurant menu items.
Detailed description
This online randomized clinical trial will test the effects of restaurant menu carbon footprint labels on consumers' choices and perceptions of restaurant menu items. Participants will be randomized to see a restaurant menu with one of two labeling schemes: 1) Control: calorie labels only; 2) Carbon footprint labels in addition to calorie labels. Participants will be instructed to select an entree to hypothetically order from an online restaurant menu. After selecting, they will be asked to answer questions about their perceptions of menu items and carbon footprint labels.The primary outcome will be the average carbon footprint of menu items chosen from the online menu.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to see a restaurant menu with one of two labeling schemes: 1) Control: calorie labels only; 2) Carbon footprint labels in addition to calorie labels. Participants will be instructed to select an entree to hypothetically order from the online restaurant menu. We will record participants' selections and match these to nutrition and carbon footprint information.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Exposure to calorie informationCalorie labels shown on online restaurant menu |
| Carbon footprint labels | Experimental | Behavioral: Exposure to calorie information, Behavioral: Exposure to carbon footprint informationCarbon footprint labels shown on online restaurant menu next to every item in addition to calorie labels |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- US adults aged 18 or older
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Younger than 18
- Non-US
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure to calorie informationCalories for all foods and beverages | Behavioural | Carbon footprint labels, Control |
| Exposure to carbon footprint informationCarbon footprint labels for all foods and beverages | Behavioural | Carbon footprint labels |
Primary outcome
Carbon footprint of selected menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Participants will select a menu item to purchase from the online restaurant menu. Outcome is carbon footprint of selected item.
20 secondary outcomes
Calories in selected menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived enjoyment of high-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived enjoyment of low-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived likelihood to order high-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived likelihood to order low-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived healthfulness of high-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived healthfulness of low-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Estimated calories in high-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Estimated calories in low-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived carbon footprint of high-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived carbon footprint of low-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived lowering of carbon footprint for high-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived lowering of carbon footprint for low-carbon-footprint menu item
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Noticing carbon footprint labels
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Label influence
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Perceived Message Effectiveness of labels
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Believability of labels
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Learned from labels
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Talk about labels with others
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Understand the labels
Time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Dec 2022.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Christina A Roberto, PhD principal investigator
University of Pennsylvania
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exposure to calorie information and Exposure to carbon footprint information in people with Food Preferences, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Dec 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Carbon footprint of selected menu item (time frame: The survey will take up to 20 minutes.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Dec 2022.