23 January 2008

Fast food calorie counts

Uncategorized

fastfoodlogos
Yesterday the New York City Board of Health gave the thumbs-up to a proposal that would require all fast food chains to post calorie counts on their menus. (The information used to be provided voluntarily by some restaurants, but never on the big plastic menus displayed behind the counter.) Unless the New York Restaurant Association finds a way to block it, the regulation will go into effect March 31.

The Board of Health claims the informed consumer will think twice before purchasing calorie-heavy items. Meanwhile the Restaurant Association claims posting calorie content won’t have any effect on the consumer’s choice.

So if there won’t be any effect, why is the NYRA fighting to block the proposal? They claim the menus will look cluttered. Give me a break.