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In 2019, fast-food restaurants spent $5 billion in total advertising, an increase of over $400 million (9%) vs. 2012. TV represented 91% of total ad spending, and TV ad spending increased by 12% compared to 2012.

Preschoolers, children, and teens viewed on average 2.1 to 2.3 fast-food TV ads per day in 2019. The majority of ads promoted regular menu items and the restaurant in general. Less than 10% of ads viewed promoted kids’ meals.

In 2019, fast-food restaurants spent $318 million to advertise on Spanish-language TV, a 33% increase from 2012. The number of ads viewed by Hispanic preschoolers and children increased 2% and 7% over the 7 years, in contrast to a decline in ads viewed by preschoolers and children overall.

In 2019, Black preschoolers, children, and teens viewed approximately 75% more fast-food TV ads than their White peers, an increase compared to 60% more ads viewed by Black youth in 2012.

Although 274 fast-food restaurants advertised in 2019, six restaurants (McDonald’s, Domino’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Sonic, and Little Caesars) were responsible for 46% of total fast-food ad spending and approximately 55% of fast-food TV ads viewed by children and teens.

Complete Nutrition Information

Looking for more specific nutrition information? The summaries for each of the 12 restaurants in our analysis list nutritional data as of January 2010 for all menu items, including serving size, calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, added sugar, fiber, protein, and Nutrition Profiling Index score.

Click on a restaurant to see information for the full menu or click on a food item type. You can also use the Advanced Nutrition Search to search for items that meet nutrition limits that you select by restaurant and item type.