Chain Restaurants Required To Post Calorie Counts
It's no surprise that restaurant food can be loaded with calories, whether you're ordering a bowl of pasta, a salad, or an extra-cheese pizza. But it can be easy to put that aside when the number's not staring right at you, and equally simple to think you're making a good decision and end up with a "healthy" dinner filled with a day's worth of calories. As of Monday, that confusion will officially be cleared up.
First passed in 2010, the FDA's regulation requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts finally went into effect this week. The rule applies to all restaurants, supermarkets, and even movie theaters with more than 20 locations to list the calorie count for every standard menu item. There's some flexibility for build-your-own type menus, so you may see calorie ranges for some items.
While many large chains, like McDonald's, Starbucks, and Chipotle, have already been in compliance for years, expect to see changes in regional and mid-size chains, as well as on deli counters, which had more time to comply.
The rule was delayed last year so that it could be "maximally beneficial for customers," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told the Washington Post. This gave restaurants more time to update their menus, as the calories must be posted on display boards and printed menus (but not marketing materials).
The FDA's goal is to make it easier for consumers to make informed, healthy decisions about what they're eating, Gottlieb said. Studies show that when menus are labeled, the number of calories ordered is reduced by 30 to 50 calories per visit - it doesn't sound like a lot, but depending on how often you eat out, it could make a difference.
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