An interesting new study from the Journal of Consumer Research finds that disclosing nutritional and calorie information on restaurant menus and boards may influence consumer behavior when dining out. Specifically, researchers found that consumers are more likely to be influenced by this content when their expectations are “not fulfilled when they examine this information.”

Looking toward the future, the Natural Foods Merchandiser asked top market researchers to predict what the natural products shopper of the future will look like n five years, and experts identified six key trends.

New research released by Nielsen finds that as the economy lingers in the doldrums, supermarkets are actually benefiting. The latest survey, which consistently shows that those in the U.S. are eating out less because of thinner wallets (46%), Nielsen research also found that sales of “value-priced prepared meals” in supermarkets and club stores are experiencing double-digit growth!

If you had any doubt that the food choices people make are influenced by their friends, family, and colleagues, a recent WIRED article provides the evidence. It describes the social implications of the U.S. obesity epidemic: “Weight gain had a stunning infection rate. If one person became obese, the likelihood that his friend would follow suit increased by 171%…”