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NY puts calorie counts on menus..; Nanny state or health benefit?
Topic Started: Jul 22 2008, 05:05 AM (684 Views)
Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
New York Food Chains Post Calories
By DAVID B. CARUSO, AP

NEW YORK (July 20) -- 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?"
The deadline also looked problematic for a unique class of New York City eateries: loosely affiliated, largely immigrant-owned restaurants that share the same name and sometimes the same suppliers, but operate independently.

Afgan Paper & Food Products, which distributes food and packaging materials to many of the eateries, said it was scrambling to get them calorie info.

"The stores are all calling and asking for information. We don't have it," said Mariam Mashriqi, a receptionist at the company.

In the meantime, Mashriqi said, some owners were paying for the laboratory tests themselves.
"These are small stores. They are barely making a profit," she said.

City health officials said restaurants have had ample time to prepare. Every restaurant licensed by the city got a letter this spring. Another 250 were issued formal warnings when health inspectors noticed that they hadn't yet complied.

Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
McDonalds' here have nutrition facts on the bottoms of some packages.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
So.. if the nation goes this way, will we encourage healthy habits, or will we become the United States of Anorexia?

Or are we just putting an undue burden on businesses at a time when restaurant traffic is down?

If it turned out to be a benefit, how long would it be before we knew it?

I myself became very educated on calories of damn near everything and portions years ago. Not that it has helped all that much. I know what McDonald's stuff is. Which is why I stick to their breakfasts if that.

I have to think this is an unnecessary burden on businesses. If you are interested, get educated.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Well when we have a nationwide obesity problem, and we have people thinking that this sort of crap is actually good for them, I think a little information definitely couldn't hurt.

It's not a nanny state when people actually need the instruction.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
People that eat at McDonalds know it's not good for them.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:13 AM
People that eat at McDonalds know it's not good for them.

Uh, not everybody.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Riley
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Aqua Letifer
Jul 22 2008, 09:14 AM
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:13 AM
People that eat at McDonalds know it's not good for them.

Uh, not everybody.

If they don't know that, I doubt they could even understand the numbers on nutrition facts.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:15 AM
Aqua Letifer
Jul 22 2008, 09:14 AM
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:13 AM
People that eat at McDonalds know it's not good for them.

Uh, not everybody.

If they don't know that, I doubt they could even understand the numbers on nutrition facts.

Big numbers means bad. Small numbers means better. :shrug:

Either way I don't think it could hurt any.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Aqua Letifer
Jul 22 2008, 09:16 AM
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:15 AM
Aqua Letifer
Jul 22 2008, 09:14 AM
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:13 AM
People that eat at McDonalds know it's not good for them.

Uh, not everybody.

If they don't know that, I doubt they could even understand the numbers on nutrition facts.

Big numbers means bad. Small numbers means better. :shrug:

Either way I don't think it could hurt any.

Nope. Wouldn't help much either, though.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:17 AM

Nope. Wouldn't help much either, though.

Well, that information should be made readily available for anyone who wants it. Some fast food chains have the stuff posted right by the cashiers. Other ones don't at all.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Aqua Letifer
Jul 22 2008, 09:22 AM
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:17 AM

Nope. Wouldn't help much either, though.

Well, that information should be made readily available for anyone who wants it. Some fast food chains have the stuff posted right by the cashiers. Other ones don't at all.

Sure it should be available. Just won't help obesity. I agree with Mik. If people are interested, they will figure it out.

If someone really doesn't realize a Big Mac is unhealthy, I doubt they will know what 1000 calories means when they see it on the box.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Riley
Jul 22 2008, 05:26 AM

If someone really doesn't realize a Big Mac is unhealthy, I doubt they will know what 1000 calories means when they see it on the box.

I disagree. I think the misconception comes from people not actually knowing what they're putting into their mouths. A Big Mac's not really all that large. 1k calories is surprising to me, too. Heck even their salads are real high in calories. The folks who are coming in to get a "healthy alternative" might crap their pants over how many calories come with the dressing.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Pretty much all chain restaurants have their nutritional information available on the 'net.

I also think that just as important as calories are ingredients, which are NOT so readily available. Take Macaroni Grill. Their food is really good, right? Of course it is. Try eating it for a month and watch your heart come to a complete stop. Some of their delicious pasta dishes have a half stick of butter AND a cup of cream in them. One serving. Their wonderful Lemon Passion Cake? 750 calories.

But still ... for all the added expense to businesses, how would you measure whether or not it was doing any good?


The nutrition information readily available certainly does not seem to deter sales of Cheetos and dips at the grocery store. Bacon and sausage fly off the shelf despite their fat content. High fructose corn syrup products abound.

For the majority of the obese, how much of their diet is taken in restaurants? I would say very little, and probably a lot of that is inexpensive fast food.

I just don't think it has benefit commensurate with the cost to businesses.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Frank_W
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OMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!!!

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jon-nyc
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Cheers
I like this and have been waiting for the burger chains to take it seriously. Starbucks followed the law from the day it went into effect. It was shocking how many calories are in some of their drinks, and I'm sure seeing it influenced the choices of consumers.

Having it prominently displayed also provides incentive for the chains to engineer out some of the calories.


(meanwhile, I'll be sticking to food!)
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Frank_W
Jul 22 2008, 09:41 AM
Posted Image

:lol:
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I have been railing away at the calories in Starbucks drinks to my girls for a couple years. all I ever get there is coffee.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Free Rider
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Fulla-Carp
Mikhailoh
Jul 22 2008, 05:10 AM
So.. if the nation goes this way, will we encourage healthy habits, or will we become the United States of Anorexia?

No way.

It'll take more than that to slim down the US citizen.

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Riley
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Frank_W
Jul 22 2008, 09:41 AM
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Copper
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Shortstop

These numbers are just too confusing.

The City Council just has to print on each food item: "Eat This" or "Don't Eat This".
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
Mikhailoh
Jul 22 2008, 08:38 AM
Pretty much all chain restaurants have their nutritional information available on the 'net.

I also think that just as important as calories are ingredients, which are NOT so readily available. Take Macaroni Grill. Their food is really good, right? Of course it is. Try eating it for a month and watch your heart come to a complete stop. Some of their delicious pasta dishes have a half stick of butter AND a cup of cream in them. One serving. Their wonderful Lemon Passion Cake? 750 calories.

But still ... for all the added expense to businesses, how would you measure whether or not it was doing any good?


The nutrition information readily available certainly does not seem to deter sales of Cheetos and dips at the grocery store. Bacon and sausage fly off the shelf despite their fat content. High fructose corn syrup products abound.

For the majority of the obese, how much of their diet is taken in restaurants? I would say very little, and probably a lot of that is inexpensive fast food.

I just don't think it has benefit commensurate with the cost to businesses.

Even smart people can miss things sometimes.

My girlfriend is pesce-vegetarian, and very conscious of what she eats. However, we were at the supermarket last night, and she was Jonesing for some of those mini-Dove bars. So she picked up a box.

And then she read the calories, and put it right back.

Yeah, everyone should know that super-premium ice cream has lots and lots and lots of calories. But hitting you between the eyes isn't a bad thing.

I can't wait to see the Cheesecake Factory list the calories on each slice of their cakes of death. Or an Italian restaurant put the calories on fettucine Alfredo. I'll still eat it anyway, but I'll have the good grace to feel guilty about it.
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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Riley
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QuirtEvans
Jul 22 2008, 10:23 AM
she was Jonesing for some of those mini-Dove bars

Posted Image

:shrug:
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Axtremus
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Copper
Jul 22 2008, 10:19 AM
These numbers are just too confusing.

The City Council just has to print on each food item: "Eat This" or "Don't Eat This".

You have a point. Making information available is certainly important, but it's also important to make sure the citizenry are sufficiently educated to makes sense of the information.
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Axtremus
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QuirtEvans
Jul 22 2008, 10:23 AM
I can't wait to see the Cheesecake Factory list the calories on each slice of their cakes of death. Or an Italian restaurant put the calories on fettucine Alfredo. ...

Or those rich, creamy curry sauces in Indian restaurants. ;)
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kenny
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People vary.
This will prevent some from ordering those "foods", and some others won't change.

So, I say it's good.
Some will be healthier.
The others still have freedom of choice.

Sorry bout the few cases where a small struggling business is harmed, but what are the ethics of selling such harmful stuff?
Perhaps this is karma.
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