A study released recently said that a New York City law which required restaurant chains to display the calorific values has not altered the food habits among the poorer people.

Some people have now (after the July 2008 law took effect) been ordering food that contains more calories despite knowing about it. This was suggested by a research team from New York University and Yale University, which was published Tuesday in Health Affairs.

The first city to impose such a law was New York as a measure taken to combat the national obesity epidemic and promoting healthier eating habits.

The researchers found that 27.7 percent who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices.

"However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling. We encourage more research on menu labeling and greater attention to evaluating and implementing other obesity-related policies”, said the researchers.

Michael Bloomberg, New York City Mayor, said that the study may have been done too soon after the law came into effect and also before all food restaurants were in compliance.