The Food and Drug Administration proposed a requirement on April 1 that would force all chain restaurants to clearly post the calorie count for all items on their menu.
The requirement, which applies to restaurants with 20 or more locations, includes fast food chains, grocery stores, coffee shops, bakeries and convenience stores. It would affect up to 280,000 establishments and could be in full effect by 2012.
While some places do post calorie information for their products, companies are not required to do so and the information that is posted is often hidden in wrappers or at the back of the store, according to an article in The Associated Press.
If the requirement is passed, the calorie counts will have to be clearly posted where all patrons will be able to see them as well as advising that a 2,000-calorie diet is used as the basis for nutritional advice.
The requirement is a “positive step in the right direction” in part because it will put caloric information in context for consumers, said Boston University Associate Professor P.K. Newby.
Newby specializes in nutrition and teaches in the School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and the Graduate Medical Nutrition Sciences program.
“One important aspect of the diet piece in the obesity epidemic is that people are not fluent enough in understanding not only the amount of calories that are in foods and drinks they consume but also how it relates to how much they should be eating for their body and activity level,” Newby said.
“This requirement will help bring these numbers to the forefront of both menus and consumers’ minds.”
While there is no arguing that the requirement is a bad thing, there are doubts as to how much of an effect it will actually have on patrons.
“It is definitely not a bad idea. But I’m not sure it will have much of an effect,” said Paul Pilch, a professor of biochemistry and medicine at BU’s Medical Center.
“As a general thing, it’s never good to eat at fast food restaurants. Even the best of them give you an intense caloric intake, and people typically underestimate their caloric intake,” Pilch said.
Pilch, who studies diabetes as it relates to obesity, stressed the importance of eating healthy and avoiding fast food altogether.
“Prepared foods, whether they be from a fast food restaurant or from the grocery store, are never as good as fresh food,” Pilch said.
“Fresh food isn’t easily available, but that is the starting point.”
Mike Krasowksi, the student manager of the West Campus Dining Hall, shared Pilch’s skepticism.
“I think it’s a great idea, but don’t think its going to change much,” Krasowski, a senior in the School of Management who is taking a semester leave of absence, said. “People already know what’s inside a Big Mac, and I’m probably going to eat it anyways.”
However, other BU students said they believe the new law will be effective.
“People will be careful with what they eat,” Melanie Famiglietti, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences said. “I don’t think people are going to buy as much fast food if they see what’s inside it.”
Mike Donovan, who is also a sophomore in CAS, agreed.
“This is absolutely a good idea,” he said. “It will have an effect if the calorie count is right in your face. If it’s not really visible, then it won’t work but if it’s right there for everyone to see, it will.”
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