Laws & Politics
New York City starts counting calories in restaurants
By Ben Wasserman
Jul 20, 2008 - 12:09:09 PM

SUNDAY July 20, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- As of Saturday, New York City health inspectors can issue citations to fine restaurants that do not comply with the city's calorie posting rule.   The fine ranges from $200 to $2,000.

The rule requires restaurants that have 15 or more outlets nationwide to pose calorie information alongside their prices and affects more than 2,000 restaurants or 10 percent of the total in the city.

As of July 12, 277 restaurants had been cited for their failure to comply, according to the New York Times. Inspectors have had the authority to cite eateries since May.  

The rule has been planned to take effect in April, but delayed because New York State fought against the rule in court.   In the end, a high court sided with the city and upheld the regulation.

Reuters cited an analyst as saying that the calorie posting rule would not help those who eat at restaurants like McDonalds suggesting that people who care about what they eat may not go there for a lunch in the first place.

A health observer affiliated with foodconsumer.org suggested that counting calories is not the right way for people to maintain a healthy weight because few people could keep counting calories for a lifetime.

The key to fighting obesity is to eat the right foods, according to Dr. Colin T. Campbell, a distinguished nutrition professor retired from Cornell University.  

He suggested that animal-based foods are the likely culprit for the obesity epidemic.   And he said those who use a whole foods, plant based diet do not have count calories.   They can eat whatever amounts without getting excess weight.

In New York City, another rule has taken effect this month. Starting on July 1, the city requires restaurants to clear artificial trans fat from all their menu items.

According to the rule, all foods served, including baked goods, oils, shortenings and margarines used for baking, and pre-prepared items that contain artificial trans fat, must contain no more than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving.

But foods served in the manufacturer’s original, sealed packaging, such as candy and crackers, are still exempt regardless of the amount of trans fat in the foods.