Australian Health Promotion Association

Lyndal Wellard, Colleen Glasson, Kathy Chapman and Caroline Miller

Introduction: Fast food can contribute a significant amount of energy, total and saturated fat, sodium and sugar to the diet,1 especially if it is consumed often. The fast food industry has been under increased scrutiny since their adoption of the self-regulatory Australian Quick Service Restaurant Industry (QSRI) Initiative for Responsible Advertising and Marketing to Children in 2009.2

Under the QSRI Initiative, seven fast food chains (Chicken Treat, Hungry Jack’s, KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Red Rooster and Oporto) pledged to reduce the exposure of children to marketing of unhealthy fast foods.2 One requirement of the QSRI Initiative is that nutrition information must be present on packaging wherever possible, as well as on company websites or upon request in-store.2

The availability of nutrition information, particularly at the point-of- sale, can assist parents to make informed meal choices for their children.3 Although many fast food chains publish nutritional information on their websites, there is little independently-verified information on how readily available nutrition  information is at the point-of-sale, and no published reports from Australia.

Three Australian states have taken steps towards legislating for mandatory nutrition labelling on menu boards in fast food chains.4-6 In December 2010, the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council announced that the Food Regulation Standing Committee would work with the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council to develop advice on a national fast food menu labelling approach by mid-2011.7 A recently released review of food labelling law and policy in Australia recommended that the energy content of standard fast food items be listed on menu boards, the menu or in close proximity to food displays, and that interpretive traffic light labels be included in fast food chain menus or menu boards.8

As there has been little research on the availability and accessibility of nutrition information in fast food outlets in Australia, this study aimed to address this gap by providing a baseline measure of the availability and accessibility of nutrition information in fast food chains.

Issue Addressed: Nutrition information at the point-of-sale assists consumers to make informed fast food choices. This study provides a baseline measure of the availability and accessibility of nutrition information in fast food outlets in Australia, filling a gap in the literature.
Methods: An in-store observational survey was conducted in 222 outlets of five fast food chains in five states. The Australian websites for each chain were surveyed for nutrition information.
Results: At least some nutrition information was available in 66% of outlets. The availability of information was higher in lower socioeconomic areas. Significantly less information was available in signatory chains of the self-regulatory marketing code. Information provided was generally incomplete; only one outlet (0.5%) provided information for all food and beverage items. In some instances information was old. Information was more available for ‘healthier’ products and less available for meal combinations. Information was provided on all chains’ websites, however it was sometimes difficult to locate.
Conclusions: While most outlets surveyed made some nutrition information available to consumers, it was generally incomplete. Fast food chains should provide comprehensive, up-to-date information for all menu items. Chains should also ensure their staff members are adequately trained in providing nutrition information.
So what? This research provided a baseline measure of the availability of nutrition information in fast food chains. Mandatory publication of energy on menu boards represents an improvement to existing practices by fast food chains. Tightening the self-regulatory marketing code is required to ensure that nutrition information is available at the point-of-sale.

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2011: 22(3)