NYC fast food chains ordered to list calories on menus

Widespread popularity of fast food in modern American culture has always remained of utmost concern to public health officials, government regulators and food safety agencies. People are consuming the fast food stuff without knowing how many calories are in their food.

The New York City Board of Health on Tuesday approved an updated version of a law requiring fast-food chains in New York, where 54 percent of adults are overweight or obese, to display calorie counts on their menus.

The move from city's health board came more than four months after a federal judge struck down a similar proposal last year. In September, 2007, U.S. District Judge Richard Holwell said that the proposed rule has violated federal law because it only applies to restaurants that voluntarily choose to disclose calorie content information to their customers.

In an effort to fight obesity, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has targeted national fast-food chains with 15 or more locations nationwide.

Under the new regulation, taking effect end of this March, any restaurant that operates at least 15 outlets nationwide would have to display calorie content on their menu boards, menus or food tags.

Display of the calorie information is essential wherever the restaurant lists the information that customers use to make their choices. This would enable New Yorkers to make more informed, healthier choices.

"Obesity is the only major health problem in the country and in New York City that is getting worse rapidly," said Thomas Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner. The updated rules will help New York people make healthier choices about what to eat; living longer, healthier lives as a result, he added.

The rule not only affects some major restaurants like fast-food chains Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's but also casual dining chains such as Ruby Tuesday and IHOP Corp's Applebee's.

The city health agency believes the new regulation, which will apply to about 10 percent of the city’s 23,000 restaurants, will be allowed because it subjects all restaurants with more than 15 locations to the same requirement while its previous rule only affected restaurants that were following voluntary federal nutritional labeling guidelines.