Calorie data coming to restaurant menu boards

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) passed a new regulation on January 22 requiring restaurant chains to prominently display calorie information on menus and menu boards.
The new measure, which takes effect on March 31 of this year, affects all chain restaurants in the city that have 15 or more outlets in the U.S. - about 10 percent of all city restaurants and most fast food eateries.
City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden said the new law “will help New Yorkers make healthier choices about what to eat; living longer, healthier lives as a result.”
According to the DOHMH, around three quarters of consumers utilize caloric information on packaged foods in grocery stores and around half claim the information affects their food choices.
While chain restaurants often post nutrition information on their websites, in brochures or on food wrappers, the information is not readily accessible to consumers before placing an order.
The DOHMH is hoping their new regulation will affect decision-making at the counter, thereby reducing the number of people who suffer from obesity by 150,000 over the next five years; the DOHMH estimates that this reduction could prevent over 30,000 new cases of diabetes.
The DOHMH noted that chain restaurant food has been linked to obesity and without any clear nutrition facts, consumers largely underestimate the number of calories in a meal.
To learn more about the DOHMH’s calorie regulation and other health initiatives, visit www.nyc.gov/health.