Posted on 05/19/2009 12:06:36 PM PDT by reaganaut1
Two federal lawmakers have introduced legislation to require fast-food and other chain restaurants to post calories on menu boards and food display tags. The chains also would have to put information about calories, fats, carbohydrates and salt on printed menus.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) on Thursday introduced the Menu Education and Labeling Act, called the MEAL Act for short. They said it would help consumers make more informed choices about the nutritional content of the food they are ordering.
The bill has the support of many consumer and health groups and emulates legislation signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September that requires chain restaurants in California to display calorie counts with each menu item. That was the nation's first state law of its kind; it won the support of the California Restaurant Assn. because it standardized requirements and preempted ordinances in Santa Clara and San Francisco.
Health advocates believe that when people see the amount of calories, fat and salt in meals before they order them, they will gravitate to more healthful selections.
"Consumers play an impossible guessing game trying to make healthier choices in restaurants," said Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "Who would guess that a large chocolate shake at McDonald's has more calories than two Big Macs or that a multigrain bagel at Dunkin' Donuts has 140 more calories than a jelly doughnut?"
The restaurant industry is pushing a competing bill. The Labeling Education and Nutrition Act, nicknamed the LEAN Act, would require chains with more than 20 units to post calorie counts. It also would nullify state and local measures now in effect and preempt future regional measures.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It's really not their fault you forgot to bring your i-POD with you for an instant check.
My weariness with meddlesome leftist sob’s is rapidly evolving into an intense hatred. Nobody worthy of the name ‘American’ would vote for such human dreck.
but instead of fighting them, the food industry is pushing for a somewhat less intrusive bill. As long as this remains the dynamic we are all just totally screwed. (so I guess we shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for more Harry and Louise ads...)
For Sure.
Oh BS. They just want to harass big successful companies.
Mark my words, if they get this through, they will up the ante ... next will be govt control of what restaurants can serve.
Exactly. How many years have we had this precisely this info on food products? Has the national waistline changed for the better?
I had the same thought. Already there is talk of taxing soda to help pay for universal coverage.
>>next will be govt control of what restaurants can serve.
Yes, and the subsequent reductions in portions.....long a holy grail. Restaurants will eagerly accept since it’ll increase their margins with smaller portions.
Bye bye to the Buffet, the Huge rack of ribs etc.
Knowing human nature, I can just see kids, boys, in their competitive ways....
Dude, I just ate 1800 calories worth of food, can you top that?
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