It looks like displaying calorie counts will go beyond restaurants. Earlier this year, President Obama signed a law that will require all chain restaurants with 20 or more stores to post a calorie count. Soon consumers will see grocery stores, airlines, convenience stores and movie theaters displaying calorie counts.
The Wall Street Journal recently published a story regarding the changes. The changes are getting praise and criticisms.
The expansion stems from provisions in the health-care overhaul enacted in March. The government wants calorie listings posted to make it easier for consumers to select healthier options, and the restaurant industry backed the move so it could avoid a patchwork of local ordinances that are developing.
So far, the expansion of the calorie counts beyond restaurants has drawn praise from nutrition advocates but push-back from industries that say the original legislation was never intended to hit them.
“People don’t go to movie theaters for the primary purpose of eating,” said Gary Klein, a vice president for a group representing theater owners. “Why aren’t ballparks covered? You think the food served at ballparks is healthy?”
– Check out the full story here.
