Byrd K, et al. – This study explored the link between reported consumer actions to decrease sodium intake and dining out frequency and awareness and use/or intended use of menu nutrition information (MNI). According to findings of this study, consumers reporting actions indicated they dined out less frequently, particularly at fast–food or pizza restaurants and reported they were more likely to use MNI, in comparison with consumers reporting no actions to decrease sodium intake.

Methods

• Researchers conducted a secondary analysis using responses from 5,588 US adults aged 20 years or older who participated in the 2013-2014 cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey household interview.
• The main outcomes were dining out frequency and seeing MNI, using MNI if seen, or would use MNI if provided.
• They used linear and logistic regression models to evaluate the relationship of consumers reporting and not reporting action to decrease sodium intake and the outcome measures.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that reported consumer action to decrease sodium intake compared to no action was associated with an overall decreased dining out frequency of approximately one meal per week (mean±standard error=3.12±0.10 compared to 4.11±0.14; P<0.01).
• Reserchers also observed that when separated by type of restaurant, the relationship was significant for fast-food or pizza establishments (mean±standard error=1.35±0.05 meals compared to 2.00±0.07 meals; P<0.001), but not other types of foodservice operations.
• Data reported that the odds of seeing MNI, using MNI when seen, or would use MNI if provided were higher for consumers reporting actions to decrease their sodium intake compared to those who were not for both fast-food or pizza establishments and restaurants with wait staff (odds ratio ranged from 1.17 [95% CI 1.04 to 1.32] to 2.24 [95% CI 1.82 to 2.76]; P values ranged from <0.05 to <0.001).