Just this month, Philadelphia joined New York City and California in requiring calorie counts be posted on restaurant menus. Now the rest of the country may do the same.
A bill Sen. Tom Harkin and Rep. Rosa DeLauro introduced that would require nutrition labeling on chain-restaurant menus across the country has stalled, but the two have announced they will reintroduce the legislation in the next session of Congress.
The move seems to be getting more popular as the country continues to fight the obesity epidemic. Last month, Yum Brands – the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food – said it’s going to start posting calories on menu boards in its restaurants nationwide.
I say, show me the calories! I want to know what I’m getting into. What do you think? Should there be a law that requires calorie counts be posted on menus nationwide?
I agree. I want to know what I’m eating, at least calorie wise. I think it’s a good thing and can help people make better choices.
I think it should be required. Some people have no clue as to what they are eating and it might help steer them in the right direction. (away from that Bloomin Onion!)
I think it should be voluntary, but encouraged and still an excellent idea. I am a little cynical that those need it most will only ignore it.
I’m with you, Sahar, when you say “Show me the calories!”. It’s required on food labels that we purchase at the grocery store, so it should be required on food at restaurants.
But calories are just the beginning …. posting the ingredients would really open people’s eyes, along with country of origin for meat and other ingredients.
But this is the first step and I think it’s a good one. No more hiding!
You know, I thought I wouldn’t like this because for the most part I eat really healthy so when I splurge, I know what I’m eating isn’t healthy but I was actually out to dinner the other night and on the back page of the menu they listed the nutrition contents. I really liked it! Some things weren’t as bad as I thought and others were way worse! It helped me to make better choices.
The only thing is, who is to say they are posting the right information?
I think this is something that should have been required a long time ago. I hate going on a wild goose chase just trying to figure out what’s in my food.
I’m with you, Zandria. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in the political world…
Absolutely, calories should be posted in all restaurants nationwide.