Are Calorie Labels Doing More Harm Than Good?
When I first started Råbowls, my mission was simple: to provide fresh, nourishing food that makes people feel good. Food that energizes fuels creativity and brings joy—not something that sparks anxiety or guilt. As someone deeply invested in health and nutrition, I’ve always believed in transparency, but the latest research on calorie labels has made me rethink how we communicate about food.
A new study published in BMJ Public Health has confirmed something that many people with lived experience of eating disorders have been saying for years: calorie labels on restaurant menus can do more harm than good.
The Hidden Cost of Transparency
The research conducted by King's College London found that calorie labeling on menus influences the behavior of individuals with eating disorders in harmful ways. Many reported that seeing calorie counts triggered obsessive thoughts, led them to avoid certain restaurants, and reinforced unhealthy eating patterns. Eye-tracking studies even showed that individuals with eating disorders tend to fixate on calorie labels more than other menu details.
The intention behind these policies—reducing obesity and promoting ‘healthier choices’—is understandable. But the reality is that food is about so much more than numbers. Health isn’t just a calorie count; it’s how food makes you feel, your relationship with it, and the joy it brings to your life.
Råbowls’ Approach: A Different Perspective
At Råbowls, we focus on quality ingredients, balance, and flavor. While we do provide nutritional information for those who want it, we don’t believe that reducing food to a number tells the full story. A high-calorie dish can be packed with nutrients; a low-calorie option isn’t necessarily ‘healthy.’ Instead of making people feel guilty, our goal is to help them feel good.
We initially listed the exact calorie amount next to each bowl's name on our menu, believing it would help customers make informed choices. However, we soon realized that this approach had unintended consequences. One customer with anorexia told us that she felt intrigued and triggered by it, and that it worsened her negative emotions. On the other hand, some customers appreciated the transparency. After reflecting on this feedback, we decided to remove calorie counts from the main menu but still offer nutritional information in the back end for those who request it.
But this study made me reflect: Should we, as restaurant owners, be more mindful of how we present nutritional information? Is calorie labeling just another blunt instrument that ignores the complexity of health?
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear from you. Do menu calorie labels help you make better choices, or do they create unnecessary stress around food? Should restaurants rethink how we communicate nutritional info? Drop a comment or share your thoughts—I’m genuinely curious about different perspectives.
Let’s keep the conversation going and make food about enjoyment, nourishment, and well-being—not just numbers on a menu.
Reference:
Nora Trompeter, Fiona Duffy, Imogen Peebles, Emily Wadhera, Kate Chambers, Helen Sharpe, Ellen Maloney, Dasha Nicholls, Ulrike Schmidt, Lucy Serpell, Tom Jewell. Impact of out-of-home nutrition labelling on people with eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. BMJ Public Health, 2025; 3 (1): e000862 DOI: 10.1136/bmjph-2023-000862
