Study Shows Salt Warning Labels on Menus Influence Consumer Choices and Reduce Salt Intake

Salt warning labels on restaurant menus significantly influence consumer choices by reducing salt intake and increasing awareness, supporting public health efforts to lower diet-related health risks.

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Recent research published in The Lancet Public Health highlights the positive impact of salt warning labels on restaurant menus. The study demonstrates that such labels effectively encourage consumers to make healthier choices by discouraging the selection of high-salt items, increasing awareness of salt content, and significantly decreasing the amount of salt ordered.

Led by Dr. Rebecca Evans from the University of Liverpool, this pioneering research is the first UK-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the effects of salt labeling in both online and real-world restaurant settings. The study involved an online trial with 2,391 UK adults and a real-world trial at a Liverpool restaurant with 454 participants. Results showed that salt warning labels, which identify items containing over 50% of the UK recommended daily salt intake (6g), are perceived as effective across various demographics.

In the online trial, participants ordered 0.26g less salt per meal when exposed to warning labels. Similarly, in the restaurant setting, labeled menus led to a reduction of 0.54g of salt per meal. These effects were consistent regardless of age, sex, or education level, indicating broad applicability.

The study emphasizes that simple, cost-effective menu interventions can promote healthier food choices and have substantial public health benefits. With many restaurant meals containing excessive salt—often without consumer awareness—such labeling could be a vital policy tool.

Public support for salt warning labels is strong, with about two-thirds of participants advocating for governmental adoption of this policy. Currently, the UK lacks mandatory nutrient warnings in restaurants despite commitments to reduce salt intake and WHO recommendations. Experts argue that better regulation of out-of-home food outlets can help improve population health.

This research adds to the growing global evidence supporting menu labeling as a means of combating high salt consumption, which contributes to high blood pressure and preventable deaths. The study suggests that implementing salt warning labels in the UK could be an effective step toward healthier eating habits.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-salt-menus-prompt-diners-rethink.html