Should Restaurants Have To Show Calorie Counts?

New York- January 22, 2008

The New York City Board of Health approved a new law that requires chain restaurants to display the calorie count of their dishes on menus and on menu boards. The law applies to restaurants who have more than 15 locations nationwide. All restaurants affected by this new law must have calorie counts posted by March 31, 2008. Other cities are considering similar action, including San Francisco and Philadelphia.

What does this mean for the restaurant industry as a whole? I think that in the face of our growing obesity problem, this is the beginning of calorie counting in restaurants. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the near future all restaurants have labels on their menus, similar to that of the nutrition labels on food in the grocery store.

The big question...what will it cost restaurants, especially smaller restaurants? What are your thoughts? Is this a good practice? Do you think it will help American’s make healthier choices, or do we go to eat to enjoy ourselves, and heck with the calories! Join the discussion at the Forum and share your thought!