Calories on Menus

Calories on Menus in New York CityKaitlyn Sporleder

NYC2008 federal judge ruled that restaurants with over 15 locations must post calories on menusHelp reduce obesityApplied to 10%California, Oregon, and Maine with similar laws by 2009New Yorkers eat over 1/3 oftheir meals out of homeFirst Amendment Violation?

ProsConsumers making better choicesRestaurants will add healthier optionsPeople are eating out more oftenMost restaurant food is high in empty caloriesEx: Whopper meal at Burger King over 2,000 calories

ConsForcing restaurants to postinformationOnly applies to 10% of restaurantsConsumers can go elsewhereYou can inform them but they may still make poor decisions

EvidenceTransaction data from StarbucksCalories purchased declined by 6%Low income people in NYC vs. New JerseyNo difference in amount of purchased calories

MediationCalories should be requiredNot a First Amendment ViolationMust be on all restaurant menus not just someIt cant hurt anyone to be informed

Works CitedRestaurants Must Post Calories, Judge Affirms. The New York Times. The New York Times Company,2013. Web. 9 April 2013. Whos Counting? The Hive. Washington Post. Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC, 2013. Web. 9 April 2013.NY Orders Calories Posted on Chain Menus. CNN Health.Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc., 2009.Web. 9 April 2013. Health Care Reform in Action- Calorie Labeling Goes National. New England Journal of Medicine.Massachusetts Medical Society, 2013. Web. 9 April 2013. On These Menus, Calories Count. The Washington Post. The Washington Post, 2013. Web. 9 April2013.Nutrition Chart. NutriSoft. NutriSoft LLC, 2009. Web. 4 May 2013.

Bollinger, Bryan. Leslie, Phillip. Sorensen, Alan. Calorie Posting in Chain Restaurants. August 2010. PDF.

Elbel, Brian. Kersh, Rogan. Brescoll, Victoria L. Dixon, Beth. Calorie Labeling And Food Choices: A FirstLook At The Effects On Low-Income People In New York City

City May Ask Restaurants to List Calories. The New York Times. The New York Times Company,2013. Web. 9 April 2013.