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All Americans Will Be Forced To Acknowledge Calorie Info
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 26, 2011
Modified Apr 26, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 26, 2011
Modified Apr 26, 2011
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The rest of America will soon be remade in Michael Bloomberg's image, when the FDA implements rules modeled after NYC's controversial law requiring chain restaurants to prominently display their calorie info. Earlier this month the FDA proposed regulations that would require calorie labeling on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, retail food establishments, and even vending machines across America. The agency is also seeking public comment on whether other types of food establishments should be included. New York City, über alles!
NY1 recently swung by Applebee's in Times Square to talk to tourists about the proposals, and at least one customer sounded very enthusiastic, saying, "It's making people armed and dangerous with the information that's going to prove of tremendous value." But the owner of the franchise, which offers several different menu items under 500 calories, says sharing the calorie info doesn't seem to be influencing diners' choices. "In our space, they go out because it's an event. They don't want to come here to our restaurants and watch themselves or be conscious of or be reminded of calories," says owner Zane Tankel. NY1 notes that you could eat three of those diet menu meals and still consume fewer calories than an Applebee's dessert.
Nevertheless, the FDA is committed to enlightening heavy Americans, whether they like it or not. (One exception, however, will be movie theaters; cinema owners have successfully lobbied the FDA to make them exempt, arguing that "people go to theaters to see movies, not to eat meals." But if this proves successful on a national level, we look forward to other NYC innovations sweeping America. Perhaps someday we'll live in a country where we can safely pedal from coat to coast along the National Sadik-Khan Memorial Bike Lane, stopping along the way for drinks in smoke-free bars and nutritious low-salt meals in A-grade restaurants (never mind that L.A. claims credit for that one), scoring free prophylactics with our GPS condom finder, and lecturing receptive provincial-types on the dangers of illegal firearms. It may not happen overnight, but surely this clean-living utopia will be realized by the time President Bloomberg enters his third time. You can thank us later, America!
Tagged
calorie counts
calorie info
calories
fda
mayor bloomberg
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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