In the last year, it has been learned that the calorie counts on menus and in processed foods understated the true calorie count.

For even the most faithful calorie counters, how could they win the game of losing weight when they had no idea what their caloric intake actually was?

Now, following the lead of some cities, the federal government is expanding this idea, through the health reform bill passed last night. The cities reported people made better choices with accurate information.

Restaurants with more than 20 outlets must post calorie counts for their regular menu items. (Watch those specials.)

Whether this strategy will work is an open debate, but then, nearly every food topic seems to be one.

U.S. News and World Report

“Coming to chain restaurants nationwide, courtesy of Congress (or at least 219 House Democrats): calorie counts on menus and menu boards. Health reform legislation passed yesterday includes provisions to require restaurants with more than 20 outlets to post calorie information for all of their regular menu items. (Emphasis added)

“Whether the move, which some cities have already instituted, will actually work to change purchases or reduce waistlines is still a matter of debate. A working paper released in January by the Stanford Graduate School of Business looked at Starbucks. It found that the calorie posting mandated in New York City was linked with a 6 percent reduction in calories per transaction—though beverage purchases weren’t affected. A study conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also found an impact; it said that people who saw the posted calories and used the information in their purchasing decisions “consumed 152 fewer calories at hamburger chains and 73 fewer calories at sandwich shops compared with everyone else,” wrote USA Today. (It’s worth noting that it was the city government that mandated the calorie postings in New York.)”

Source: U.S. News and World Report, March 22, 2o1o