A new rule requiring chain restaurants in New York to post calorie information on their menus took effect this past Friday. The regulation defines a chain restaurant as one that has 15 or more outlets across the country. In New York, the rule affected 2,000 restaurants or 10 percent of the total in the city. Among them are such restaurants as McDonald’s, Burger King, Applebee’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and Subway.
The rule also states that caloric information must be presented in the same font and format as the price and name of the food item. Health inspectors may issue fines from $200 to $2,000 for establishments not in compliance.
I hope the rule makes it nationwide. This will prevent people claiming ignorance about the unhealthy nature of meals they consume. It will also serve as reality checks for people consistently consuming fast food. Several customers have claimed to be unaffected by the advent of the rule, if it changes a few decisions a week, I think it’s well worth it.
The enforcement of this rule would definitely affect the way I sometimes attack the dollar menu at fast food restaurants.
7/22/08 – 4.6 miles in 41:42 (8:56 per mile pace)
Very good thing! Should be like that in every restaurant/brasserie etc.!
http://www.globalina.wordpress.com
Thanks to the people that directed me to more images of menus with calories.
As a New York native, I’ve been seein’ calorie indicators about a month or so before this took place.
I walked into a Dunkin’ Donuts a couple weeks back, wanting to take comfort in coffee and a bit of muffins, when lo and behold! The calories of each muffin were placed, conspicuously, under the name of the muffin.
Needless to say, I haven’t got a muffin from there since.
And Starbucks is making me reconsider some really yummy caffeinated beverages with the calories displayed next to each drink.
But the point is- putting on just the calorie count on the food is starting to keep me from consuming lotsa calories. Imagine what else would happen if people were able to see the fat content as well…
If you’re not having those calories, I’ll give them a good home!
… that fat guy over there.
*waves*
dovalia – It’s doing the designed purpose. I am eager to see the trend spread. I have a feeling some restaurants will modify their 1000+ calorie items down to triple digits. We’ll see though.
And in related news…
Los Angeles City Council OK’s a one-year ban on new fast-food restaurants in South L.A.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-me-fastfood23-2008jul23,0,7844930.story
DR
http://healthhabits.wordpress.com
I’m not really for the ban on new fast-food restaurants. The only reason they exist is because of demand and well… people are willing to eat it. The companies have done nothing wrong, they simply offer a service. In my opinion it is up to to consumer to decide whether they use the service.
Just banning restaurants isn’t going to teach consumers anything. To me education about nutrition and diet is the critical.
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As I said in my own rant…it’s about personal accountability. If you read those signs with calories posted, it’s not enough. You have to be willing to DO something with the information because you’re not going to burn off those calories just by reading a darned sign.
I think it’s a very interesting law but I don’t believe it will change anything, it may have a short term impact but after a few months everybody will be back to their old habits.
In my opinion, who will benefit from this law are the restaurants because they will not be accountable for anything because they will say that the amount of calories were display on the menu.
However, if in your menu you have a sandwich that has 980 calories you should be accountable for something.
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This might be an off chance but I am hoping that sales of high calorie items drop, forcing restaurants to provide healthier alternatives. Just hoping!
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