A 540-calorie Big Mac? NY chains post calorie info

Trinity · 07-19-08, 02:30 AM

A 540-calorie Big Mac? NY chains post calorie info - Yahoo! News

Quote:

NEW YORK - Customers at big fast-food chains in New York City are finally facing the facts about their meal choices. And for some, the truth may be hard to swallow — like 1,130 calories for a Big Mac, medium fries and a medium soda.

After months of resistance, the city's chain restaurants have begun obeying a first-of-its-kind rule requiring them to post calorie counts right on the menu.

McDonald's and Burger King were among the chains that unveiled new menu boards Friday at scores of locations throughout the city, taking calorie information that had long been available on Web sites and tray liners and putting it front-and-center above the cash register.

The new rules are part of an anti-obesity campaign that has also included a recent citywide ban on artificial trans fats in restaurant food. The regulation was first passed in 2006 but was redrafted after a court battle struck down the original version.

The calorie posting rule took effect in May, but legal action delayed enforcement until now. Starting Saturday, chains big enough to fall under the rule will face penalties of up to $2,000 per store for not disclosing calorie information in a prominent spot on their menus, preferably next to the price.

On Friday, the numbers at some restaurants could be hard to read, and many places only offered calorie counts for a few top-selling items. A few chains still appeared to be ignoring the rule, perhaps holding out hope that a court would block the plan, the first of its kind in any U.S. city. An industry lawsuit is pending.

Cathy Nonas, director of the health department's physical activity and nutrition program, said some delayed posting the data because they were afraid customers might change their eating habits.

"We want to help people make an informed decision at the time of purchasing," she said. "Obviously, we have an epidemic of obesity across the nation, and New York City is no different."

Other chains, including Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and Wendy's have been phasing in calorie information, store by store, for several months — surprising some patrons who never realized that a single jelly doughnut has 270 calories, or that a grande mint mocha chip frappuccino with whipped cream packs a bigger caloric punch than a double cheeseburger.

Dietary guidelines for adults recommend about 2,000 calories a day, depending on age, gender and activity.

Still, some customers grabbing burgers, fries and shakes this week seemed not to notice the new columns of calorie data.

Audrey and Kevin Carroll, visiting from Toronto, didn't see that the box of treats they grabbed for the kids at Cinnabon on their way out of town contained a whopping 850 calories per bun.

"That's why they call it fast food," said their traveling companion, Cynthia Kaufman, of New York's Long Island. "It's New York. If it's loud, and noisy, and you're in a hurry, and the kids are crying, who is going to stop and read the calories?"

To date, the lack of enforcement of the calorie-posting rules had meant haphazard compliance, and it remained unclear Friday how many of the estimated 2,500 covered restaurants would meet the deadline.

A few restaurants appeared to be caught completely off guard by the calorie rules, especially the homegrown fast-food chains that pepper New York City's outer boroughs.

"This has been an absolute nightmare," said Enrique Almela, director of operations at Singas Famous Pizza, which has 17 restaurants, most in the borough of Queens.

The menu rule only applies to restaurants that serve standardized portion sizes and have 15 or more locations nationwide, a distinction that was intended to target fast-food giants. But in practice, the low threshold has swept up little-known outfits like Singas Famous Pizza and other local franchises that have never done nutritional testing before.

Almela spoke with The Associated Press from his car Wednesday as he rushed sample pizzas to a food laboratory. He said the calorie tests for his 35 different pizza combinations will cost $10,000, and he doubts they will produce accurate data.

"I may put 15 pepperoni on a pie. Someone else may put 12. We don't measure the amount of cheese we put on," he said. "If you put up roundabout numbers, how does that help anyone?"

A novel idea. How will this affect the eating habits of customers? Will looking at the calories influence u in what u purchase in restaurants or fast-food places? Will u cut down yr intake to decrease yr calories or will u simply purchase the same as b4 (even when looking at the calorie sheet)? How will this affect the fast-food/restaurant industry? Will their sales go down? What do u think?

Do u agree with the trans-fat ban they r proposing?

How effective do u think this anti-obesity campaign measure will be? Should all states be doing this?

Kernel Sanders · 07-19-08, 03:45 AM

I advocate full disclosure, but I do not support banning any kind of food (or component) unless it is toxic or extremely harmful. Being unhealthy is not enough. A nanny state is neither beneficial nor desirable - take responsibility for your own fat ass.

Will the calorie labels make a difference? Perhaps, but the majority who would be swayed would be in the group that avoids such foods anyway. Yesterday I didn't know a Big Mac had 540 calories, but I definitely did not think it was healthy.

Tell me any relevent fact about my food, about what's in my food, about how it's made, about where it's made, about where the components were made. Don't tell me whether or not I can eat it.

ludahai · 07-19-08, 03:54 AM

The only problem is that for smaller chains, this is an onerous expense and the notion that exact calorie counts can be provided for every item of food is rather rediculous.

1069 · 07-19-08, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludahai

The only problem is that for smaller chains, this is an onerous expense and the notion that exact calorie counts can be provided for every item of food is rather rediculous.

People who care already calculate their own calories... and the approximate calorie count of every type of food can be found both on the internet and in books.
I suppose this is a good idea, but I'm not sure I'd trust a fast food joint to give accurate information about its products anyway; not unless there was a whole lot of government oversight.

gunner · 07-19-08, 05:47 AM

I think the calorific content is the last thing on this guys mind!!

Fast food burgers etc should only really be a treat not the norm, so if your gaining weight at a rapid rate it don't take "Einstein" to work out why

Paul.

ludahai · 07-19-08, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunner

I think the calorific content is the last thing on this guys mind!!

Fast food burgers etc should only really be a treat not the norm, so if your gaining weight at a rapid rate it don't take "Einstein" to work out why

Paul.

That guy is a poster child for obesity in America.

bub · 07-19-08, 08:12 AM

My sister just came back from the USA. She says the "small" coke in your McDonalds is just as big as our "large" one.

Not only the portions seem far too big, but also they are much too fat. It's common sense, everybody knows it.

In Italy they also eat a lot, but they have lots of vegetables (tomatoes, cumcumbers...) and few meat (often thin slices of pork meat) in their meals.

Edify_Always_In_All_Ways · 07-19-08, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trinity

A 540-calorie Big Mac? NY chains post calorie info - Yahoo! News

A novel idea. How will this affect the eating habits of customers? Will looking at the calories influence u in what u purchase in restaurants or fast-food places? Will u cut down yr intake to decrease yr calories or will u simply purchase the same as b4 (even when looking at the calorie sheet)? How will this affect the fast-food/restaurant industry? Will their sales go down? What do u think?

Do u agree with the trans-fat ban they r proposing?

How effective do u think this anti-obesity campaign measure will be? Should all states be doing this?

There aren't many people who realize they are fat, would like to take steps to prevent it, and know how calories work that would still order a Big Mac and calorie soda, but we may see a change soon- perhaps Americans will finally take their health into their own hands. Knowledge is power.

ludahai · 07-19-08, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edify_Always_In_All_Ways

There aren't many people who realize they are fat, would like to take steps to prevent it, and know how calories work that would still order a Big Mac and calorie soda, but we may see a change soon- perhaps Americans will finally take their health into their own hands. Knowledge is power.

At one time in my life, a 1300 calorie meal wouldn't bother me at all as I was burning 5-6000 calories a day when I was in university. However, NOW, that is WAY TOO MUCH!

Way too many people in the country of my birth take a McDonald's meal as a regular meal and do it way too often. People in the US need to take more responsibility for their health.

1069 · 07-19-08, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludahai

At one time in my life, a 1300 calorie meal wouldn't bother me at all as I was burning 5-6000 calories a day when I was in university. However, NOW, that is WAY TOO MUCH!

Way too many people in the country of my birth take a McDonald's meal as a regular meal and do it way too often. People in the US need to take more responsibility for their health.

True, and a 1300 calorie meal also isn't that bad if you're only eating one meal a day, which is what some people do.
But the fact that the 1300 calories is almost completely bereft of any nutritional value is problematic as well; one will become malnourished if that is all one eats.
Therefore, I think all nutritional content should be posted publicly for the edification of restaurant customers, not merely the caloric information.
Customers need to be aware how much or how little nutrition they are getting from a given meal, not merely how much fat and how many calories.