Nashville’s health board meets tomorrow to consider requiring chain restaurants to post their foods’ calorie contents on their menus and order boards. The law is based on a similar measure that went into effect last year in New York City.
The goal behind the law is to combat obesity, by letting fast-food eaters know how many calories they’re taking in when they order.
Cathy Nonas directs the programs for physical fitness and nutrition at New York’s health department. She says one early study showed calorie posting cut consumer’s intake by about 100 calories per meal -– 5 percent of the recommended daily intake.
“This tells us that people need that information, and hopefully that information will not only drive consumers to order lower calorie foods but also drive the restaurants to offer lower calorie foods.”
New York’s program took effect in April, and Nonas says a follow-up study is in the works.
Nashville’s law would affect restaurants with 15 or more outlets nationally. If all goes smoothly at this month’s meeting, the health board could put it up for a vote in March.
WEB EXTRA:
View Nashville health department’s page on calorie posting, including public comments for and against.
If Nashville’s law passes, it will not take effect until the end of 2009.
In July of last year, New York started citing restaurants for failing to fully post their foods’ calorie information. Violators potentially face fines of $200 or more, pending an administrative tribunal. As of last month the city had documented over 600 violations, most for partial compliance.
Other communities adopting similar measures include Seattle and California.
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