Comments on: How Useful is Traffic Light Labeling in Restaurants? http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/ Dietriffic Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:04:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2571 Melanie Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:25:12 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2571 Hi Tina, Sorry for the delay in reply, your comment went into spam for some reason. I'm glad you visited! Hi Tina,

Sorry for the delay in reply, your comment went into spam for some reason. I’m glad you visited!

]]> By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2545 Melanie Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:51:52 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2545 Family Nutritionist, Tom & Ruth, Thank you all for commenting. I agree with FN and Ruth when you say you sometimes don't want to think about the nutritional content, but would rather enjoy your food. I'm with you on that! On the other hand I do think restaurants need to be more accountable for what they are putting into our food. If they were forced to display the nutritional content, don't you feel they would rethink, and perhaps be more diligent in making food healthier? I know they don't have much to gain as FN & Tom said, but consumers have a lot to lose if they don't face up to what they're eating, particularly if they eat out on a daily basis. It's definitely a challenge, and getting consumers to care, even just a little, is another difficultly I don't think we can solve overnight! Family Nutritionist, Tom & Ruth,

Thank you all for commenting.

I agree with FN and Ruth when you say you sometimes don’t want to think about the nutritional content, but would rather enjoy your food. I’m with you on that!

On the other hand I do think restaurants need to be more accountable for what they are putting into our food. If they were forced to display the nutritional content, don’t you feel they would rethink, and perhaps be more diligent in making food healthier?

I know they don’t have much to gain as FN & Tom said, but consumers have a lot to lose if they don’t face up to what they’re eating, particularly if they eat out on a daily basis.

It’s definitely a challenge, and getting consumers to care, even just a little, is another difficultly I don’t think we can solve overnight!

]]> By: ruth http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2533 ruth Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:45:54 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2533 I think it would possibly only be of value to those individuals who eat out for lunch every day. Personally, if I go out for a meal I don't think I would really want to be thinking too much about the content. I just want to enjoy my food and eat what seems appealing on the menu. I think it would possibly only be of value to those individuals who eat out for lunch every day. Personally, if I go out for a meal I don’t think I would really want to be thinking too much about the content. I just want to enjoy my food and eat what seems appealing on the menu.

]]> By: Tom http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2525 Tom Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:44:45 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2525 I think some people who pay attention to what they eat, and the nutritional facts about the food will benefit from this. However, I don't think it would have much effect on the diets people have in restaurants. A lot of people don't pay much attention to things like this anyway, and like family nutritionist said, most restaurant don't really gain a whole lot from this, because it may turn people off to many of the items on the menu. I think some people who pay attention to what they eat, and the nutritional facts about the food will benefit from this. However, I don’t think it would have much effect on the diets people have in restaurants. A lot of people don’t pay much attention to things like this anyway, and like family nutritionist said, most restaurant don’t really gain a whole lot from this, because it may turn people off to many of the items on the menu.

]]> By: Family Nutritionist http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2523 Family Nutritionist Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:38:05 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2523 If the customer is not interested in the information, then the customer won't pay attention. Sometimes, when I eat out for a treat, I just eat something delicious, not worrying whether it is part of my balanced diet. But a lot of times, like when I have to make an "emergency" lunch stop, I am really glad to know whether that salad is really a better choice than one of the sandwiches. It is my choice, after all. Chains will voluntarily provide information if they think they have something to gain by it. Or if regulations force them to do it. This has been debated in the US for some time, but the restaurants are against it. They'd have to rethink all their packaging, which would cost them money, and then customers might not buy the fries to go with that shake. If the customer is not interested in the information, then the customer won’t pay attention. Sometimes, when I eat out for a treat, I just eat something delicious, not worrying whether it is part of my balanced diet. But a lot of times, like when I have to make an “emergency” lunch stop, I am really glad to know whether that salad is really a better choice than one of the sandwiches.

It is my choice, after all. Chains will voluntarily provide information if they think they have something to gain by it. Or if regulations force them to do it.

This has been debated in the US for some time, but the restaurants are against it. They’d have to rethink all their packaging, which would cost them money, and then customers might not buy the fries to go with that shake.

]]> By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2520 Melanie Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:29:31 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2520 Hi Tanya, Yeah, I think you make a very valid point. Do you think it may have something to do with whether you use the left or right side of your brain more? For me the colours appeal, but I'm supposed to be more right sided. I think using numbers and colours together is a good option. But, definitely difficult to grab consumers attention with any system. Hi Tanya,

Yeah, I think you make a very valid point. Do you think it may have something to do with whether you use the left or right side of your brain more?

For me the colours appeal, but I’m supposed to be more right sided. I think using numbers and colours together is a good option.

But, definitely difficult to grab consumers attention with any system.

]]> By: tanya http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2516 tanya Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:16:26 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2516 I'm on the fence about this since it was first being spoken about. On the one hand, I don't think that consumers really pay attention to that stuff - maybe in a restaurant where there is some delay in getting your meal, but if you have already paid for something - before seeing the traffic light - we are all more likely to eat it. I also believe cold hard numbers are better. Cutesy systems probably won't work as well. I’m on the fence about this since it was first being spoken about. On the one hand, I don’t think that consumers really pay attention to that stuff – maybe in a restaurant where there is some delay in getting your meal, but if you have already paid for something – before seeing the traffic light – we are all more likely to eat it. I also believe cold hard numbers are better. Cutesy systems probably won’t work as well.

]]> By: Tina Russell http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2507 Tina Russell Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:31:55 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/2008/04/04/how-useful-is-traffic-light-labeling-in-restaurants/#comment-2507 I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts. Tina Russell I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.

Tina Russell

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