Research
Adherence
Eliminating value size pricing (standardizing price per unit across portion sizes) has no significant effect on the energy content of meals ordered or consumed.
Changing how fast food is priced (e.g., removing value sizes) does not reliably lead to lower calorie orders in a single visit. Consumers often do not notice or understand the pricing structure changes.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
In the present study the elimination of value size pricing was found to have little influence on food selection or consumption.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with objective measurement.
Source
Effects of calorie labeling and value size pricing on fast food meal choices: Results from an experimental trial
Lisa Harnack et al. · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 2008
DOI 10.1186/1479-5868-5-63
rct · n=594Cited 259×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Providing calorie labeling on fast food menus has no significant effect on the energy content of meals ordered or consumed by adolescents and adults.Good
- Repeated exposure to calorie labeling and value pricing modifications is likely required to influence food choices, as single exposure yields null results.Moderate
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