Federal Laws To Force Fast Food To Display Calorie Contents
Written by Jane Tucker | Tuesday, 16 June 2009 | There are 0 comments
a Burger King Double Whopper with Cheese has almost 1,000 calories 
Something that we have campaigned and written about at Ukmedix News is finally happening! American chain restaurants such as McDonald’s and Burger King have finally agreed to go along with legislation which would make it law for them to display the exact calorie content of each item on their menus. Some American states such as California and New York have already enacted rules which mean that fast food restaurants are already displaying calorie counts but the rules are not consistent all over America. By enacting Federal laws to control menu display information the whole of America will have a uniform calorie display policy.
Some people pointed out that the reason the restaurant industry has changed its mind regarding the display of calorie counts is to protect themselves from legal challenges which may hold them responsible for obesity in America. Another reason why the restaurants are keen to go ahead with the menu calorie count displays is so that nationwide everything will be the same for all restaurants. This will mean a level playing field for different restaurant chains and also smaller restaurants will eventually have to follow suit too.
Many people for example are shocked to learn that a Burger King Double Whopper with Cheese has almost 1,000 calories and would change their order if they knew. By displaying calorie counts and other nutritional information clearly by each item people will start to make food choices based on health rather than purely on price and convenience.
What is interesting is that the fast food restaurant industry have realised that they cannot drag their feet any more and that they must play a part in reducing the burden of obesity in America which is reaching crippling proportions. With 2/3 of American people overweight and 1/3 of them classified as obese millions of citizens are dying young and suffering from obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, strokes, cancer and heart attacks.
