May 13, 2009 12:42 pm US/Eastern
Calorie Counts On Menus Will Be Coming Soon
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Have you ever wondered how many calories are in that bagel or donut you have in the morning?
That information will soon come with your food. The state Public Health Council approved regulations that would require restaurant chains with more than 20 locations in the state to prominently display the calorie counts next to each item on their menus.
It would affect about 5,800 restaurants in Massachusetts.
The new rules will take effect in November 2010.
The measure is similar to laws passed recently in New York City and in California, and covers many of the same food establishments that have had to comply with calorie labeling requirements in those major restaurant markets.
"This is a major step in the right direction in fighting the obesity epidemic in our state," said Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach. "With more than half of our adult population and one-third of our middle and high school students either overweight or obese, we need to do more to address this problem. We know that providing this information will help our residents make more informed choices."
Many in the restaurant industry favor more uniform national standards for posting calorie counts, rather than inconsistent state-by-state standards.
The new rules could get expensive for some restaurants because they require new menus and menu boards to be printed.
Wednesday's ruling is part of
Mass. In Motion – a statewide initiative to promote wellness activities for Massachusetts residents. Last month, the Public Health Council also passed regulations allowing for
body mass index measurements for all school children in the state.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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