Availability of point-of-purchase nutrition information at a fast-food restaurant.

OBJECTIVE

Given the link between eating out, poor diets, and obesity, we assessed the availability of point-of-purchase nutrition information at the largest fast-food restaurant in the U.S., McDonald's.

METHOD

In August 2004, we visited 29 of 33 (88%) of the McDonald's outlets in Washington, DC and visually inspected the premises, as well as asked cashiers or restaurant managers whether they had nutrition information available in the restaurant.

RESULTS

In Washington, DC, 59% of McDonald's outlets provided in-store nutrition information for the majority of their standard menu items. In 62% of the restaurants, it was necessary to ask two or more employees in order to obtain a copy of that information.

CONCLUSION

We found that even at the largest chain restaurant in the country, nutrition information at the point of decision-making is often difficult to find or completely absent.