Restaurants to List Calories

[joeyjoey]

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml...toryID=3762690

Bill Would Force Restaurants to List Fat, Calories
Wed November 05, 2003 03:46 PM ET

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal legislation introduced on Wednesday would force fast-food and other chain restaurants to display how many calories and how much fat and sodium customers are getting in each item.

Connecticut Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro introduced the bill, called the Menu Education and Labeling or MEAL bill, in the House. Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin said he would introduce a similar measure in the Senate.

The bill applies to standard menu items offered by chains with 20 or more outlets. If passed, it would affect groups such as Yum Brands Inc., which operates Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, McDonald's, Denny's .

"Obesity is one of our nation's most pressing health issues," DeLauro told a news conference. "This bill ... will give consumers the necessary nutritional information to make healthy choices for themselves."

More than two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese and thus at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.

The food and restaurant industry has argued that a lack of exercise is just as responsible, if not more responsible, for the trend.

But DeLauro said eating out is also to blame.

She noted that Americans spend 46 percent of food dollars in restaurants now as compared to 26 percent in 1970.

"And studies have shown that children eat almost twice as many calories when they eat at a restaurant as they do when they eat at home," DeLauro said.

At the same time, the Center for Science in the Public Interest published a poll showing that Americans want this information.

CUSTOMERS WANT TO KNOW

"People have come to expect nutritional information in markets and the poll we are releasing today shows that two-thirds of people expect it in restaurants," the CSPI's Margo Wootan said in an interview.

The CSPI telephone survey of 600 adults showed 67 percent support the idea of requiring fast-food restaurants to display the calorie content of their foods on menus and menu boards.

The survey, with a margin of error of four points, showed that 36 percent strongly support the idea.

The CSPI notes that between 1978 and 1995, the average person's daily calorie intake rose by 167 calories, from 1,876 to 2,043 calories. If not countered by exercise, this is more than enough to lay on an extra pound every month.

The 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act put nutritional information on the labels of packaged foods but restaurants are exempted.

The restaurant industry argues that this makes sense when the ingredients of meals change from day to day.

"This legislation wouldn't affect restaurants with fewer than 20 outlets, so mom and pop diners and fancy gourmet restaurants would not be required to test or label anything," Wootan said.

"A McDonald's Big Mac has 590 calories no matter where you get it." The CSPI said people have no idea just how calorie-laden many items are.

"Everyone knows that the vegetable of the day is better than french fries ... but I think people would be surprised to learn that french fries have 10 times as many calories," Wootan said.

"I think this bill will pass," she added. "It'll just be a matter of how many years it will take to pass it."

The National Restaurant Association said the bill was unnecessary.

[MsRay]

While on the topic of fast food, has anyone seen new commercials KFC that emphasize the low carbs, high protein character of their chicken? I find it fascinating how the "low-fat" paradigm has given way to the Atkin's philosophy in such a short amount of time (I'm speaking of the mainstream and not specialized markets).

[TheHipHopBillGates]

Originally posted by MsRay
While on the topic of fast food, has anyone seen new commercials KFC that emphasize the low carbs, high protein character of their chicken? I find it fascinating how the "low-fat" paradigm has given way to the Atkin's philosophy in such a short amount of time (I'm speaking of the mainstream and not specialized markets).

actually i saw that as was thinking the same thing the other day, one piece of original recipe chicken 40 grams of protein and 8 grams of carbs(or something close). I thought it was funny.

[MsRay]

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
actually i saw that as was thinking the same thing the other day, one piece of original recipe chicken 40 grams of protein and 8 grams of carbs(or something close). I thought it was funny.

That's exactly the one. If this trend continues, I wonder if we as a country will still have a problem with obesity in 20 or 30 years (if not less time).

[joeyjoey]

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
40 grams of protein and 8 grams of carbs(or something close).

But that's without the skin. Who would eat KFC and take the skin (w/breadcrumbs) off?

[TheHipHopBillGates]

Originally posted by joeyjoey
But that's without the skin. Who would eat KFC and take the skin (w/breadcrumbs) off?

i fall into that small minority.........breadcrumbs......yuck

[just jess]

i have a book that tells me the calories and fat of most fastfood/restaurant chains ...and if u guys would read how much shit they put in some of this stuff...u would never eat it ....its ridiculous...the chilis blooming onion ring thing is like 222 grams of fat and almost 3,000 calories!!

[MsRay]

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
i fall into that small minority.........breadcrumbs......yuck

Shock ... breadcrumbs and skin are de best.

[joeyjoey]

Wendy's chicken sandwiches are the best

[John Kennedy]

Originally posted by just jess
the chilis blooming onion ring thing is like 222 grams of fat and almost 3,000 calories!!

drooool - sounds good I want some! haha

[just jess]

Originally posted by j o h n n y
drooool - sounds good I want some! haha

a cinnabon is almost 2,000 calories ...unfortunately i still want some of that :( lol

[dani]

i dont really want to know at some places.. im pretty good with my diet lately.. but every 2 weeks or so .. i like to have a nice dinner out.. and cheat a little.. so i dont really want to know.. but i do think its a good idea if you eat out alot...

[HEAVY METAL]

speakin of calories... i had a chololate milkshake from johnny rockets this weekend...1100 calories

i felt so grosss....:(

[joeyjoey]

Originally posted by AmbeR
speakin of calories... i had a chololate milkshake from johnny rockets this weekend...1100 calories

i felt so grosss....:(

You didn't feel gross until we looked up how many calories it is, lol.

[just jess]

Originally posted by joeyjoey
You didn't feel gross until we looked up how many calories it is, lol.

sometimes i wish i didnt get this dining out book with the calories listed because it makes me feel so guilty about eating some of the junk that these places serve....but at the same time..its better to know what ur eating, so ur making educated decisions about what ur puttin into ur body.