New York's Board of Health is getting a lot of attention for their proposed ban on trans fats at restaurants in the city, but there is another proposal on the table that could have an even bigger impact on the dining community in NYC. The Board of Health is considering requiring some restaurants - beginning with chains and fast food establishments - to list the caloric content of their menu items on the menu. Not only that, but the calorie count must be "in type that is as large 'as the name or price of the item.'"
The NY Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is "intent on creating the nation's most rigorous system of calorie disclosure in restaurants" - which has restaurant owners worried about what they're going to serve. Chefs already admit that calories and fat aren't exactly major considerations when they are planning menus and restaurant owners are concerned that their offerings will have to change to such a degree that people won't want to eat out anymore. But the smaller eateries don't have to worry just yet because the rules will only apply to "restaurants with highly standardized menu items" that "already make their caloric content available on the Internet, in brochures or in some other format."
This clearly targets one sector of business, namely larger chains including McDonald's, Domino's Pizza and Starbucks, and some people are already arguing that such a requirement would impinge upon the rights of free and private enterprise. On top of that, though their items are standardized, the level of customization can be so great (at Starbucks, for example), that one calorie count would be almost meaningless. A McDonald's executive very accurately noted that it was "puzzling that New York is singling out restaurants that are already communicating with customers," since the information is out there, while it is not at non-chain restaurants - many of which are serving far greater portion sizes than the targeted restaurants.
Proponents say that this is similar to the 1980's laws that began to require the packaged-food industry to put nutrition labels on their products, enabling customers to make healthier choices. But if this is the case, they really should make it an all-or-none deal, not letting some restaurants get away without it while requiring others to put up the information.
Cheese Course: Brebis Pardou
A transcendent summer tomato salad
Sliced bread turns 80 today
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-31-2006 @ 10:29AM
Villarreal said...
If that info is already public, then it shouldn't take long to standarize those restaurants. Some owners won't like the idea of putting the caloric index beside the menu, but some others will, like for example restaurant which sell healthy food; salads will go up!
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10-31-2006 @ 11:04AM
Laura K said...
Can restaurants please remain the last bastion where we can go to indulge ourselves without counting calories? I'd prefer my dinners out to be a respite from the conscientiousness of my daily life. Sure, they're initially only targeting major fast food chains, but when, oh, when will it end?!
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10-31-2006 @ 8:13PM
KL said...
you have a serious problem, Spencer, if putting a calorie count on a food item is considered to be 'punishment.' Although you may be a responsible eater, the fat dude sitting at the next table over probably isn't.
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10-31-2006 @ 10:48PM
esmereldagrubb said...
I agree with Spencer...stop the calorie counting police....its promoting eating disordered obsession...i would know.
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10-31-2006 @ 11:17PM
Spencer said...
Come on NY!! okay, have an estimated "available" list of Calories if a customer requests it, but come on! If a mom and pop shop throws an extra ounce or two of potatoes on the plate, then what?? I don't even know the caloric count when i cook at home. They don't list the calories on the food in the grocery store or in the recipe book. Beer, Wine and alcohol doesn't list it either. What about beer not listing the alcohol content on the bottle?? DUH!! We all know it's high in calories!! Am i gonna sue the beer company now because i got a beer belly!? Knock it off NY!! You changed Time Square to Disneyland, took away smoking (i'm an ex smoker), closed down clubs, can't have water on the trains, took away Super Size....ggeeezzzz! you just want to take away all the fun from all the responsible eaters! I eat fast food maybe once a month, like i might have a candy bar twice a year....duh!! i know its not healthy, so now you are going to punish us who are responsible and the mom and pop's shops just trying to "feed" their families. WOW!
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10-31-2006 @ 11:30PM
Spencer said...
okay KL... i never said a "punishment"...all i'm saying is who's gonna pay for the Mom and Pop restaurants to do all the new menu printing, reseach and measuring of every ounce of food going on the plate? you? the government? Come on.... we all know what will happen next. they'll add the caloric count menu and ooppsss....Poppa Dukes Restaurant (who's barely getting by) plunks down a few more ounces of food on the plate and now they get sued because that plate had 1,000 calories instead of the the menus 900 calories. where will they draw the line? Fast food places can afford it...they have their own research teams, blah blah blah...just consider what it will do to the little restaurant on the corner. did you know that 8 out of 10 restaurants fail w/in 5 years? how many fast food places do you hear of failing. they got the money, the little joints don't. Its all about the control....just don't sue them for overportioning you next time you go to eat. It happens...one too many chicken fingers on your plate.
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