Does buffet choice architecture affect intake? The effect of relocating butter at a breakfast buffet on food intake

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The aim of this study was to investigate if a changed default reduces the intake of butter among students at a breakfast buffet. Students were divided into two groups and served themselves from a breakfast buffet. The control group was offered a buffet where the butter was easily accessible, whereas the intervention group was offered a buffet where a request had to be made for butter. Single packed portions of butter taken from each part of the buffet, the number of students, and the number of habitual users in each group were recorded. At the regular buffet, 67 of 115 students were habitual butter users and 81 packs of butter were taken. At the buffet with the changed default, 16 of the 56 students were habitual butter users. Seventeen packs of butter were taken from the buffet. Slightly displacing butter at a breakfast buffet and forcing students to ask for that option significantly reduced uptake.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Foodservice Business Research
Volume20
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)489-496
Number of pages8
ISSN1537-8020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Aug 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Taylor & Francis.

    Research areas

  • Choice architecture, food choice, food choice dynamics, healthy eating, nudging

ID: 345861286