https://vimeo.com/18394181]
Patrons of fast food restaurants and other major chain eateries embarked on a slightly more self-aware dining experience today, as Philadelphia’s new menu-labeling law went into effect. The regulation requires all establishments with 15 or more locations in the city to clearly show the calorie count of every menu item.
The regulation is clearly designed to educate consumers about a sector of the food service industry that is considered to be a main culprit in America’s—and Philadelphia’s—battle with obesity. The question then, is will it drive people away from notoriously unhealthy restaurants and into places offering healthier fare?
Ed Metzinger, manager of Essene Market Café at 719 S. Fourth St., a destination for healthful diners, doesn’t think so. “I have a hard time believing that, said Metzinger, “and that may be a jaded, jaundiced view from someone who’s been in the healthy food business for as long as we have. But I think people who eat fast food know exactly what they’re eating.”
Metzinger believes this labeling regulation is akin to the one that forces cigarette manufacturers to clearly display warnings of health risks on every package, an effort that certainly has not stopped everyone from smoking. “If it stops even a few fast food eaters, though, and steers them to healthier food” Metzinger added, “then that’s just a great thing.”
Kathy Vendetti, manager of Mugshots café and juicebar at 2100 Fairmount Ave, is slightly more optimistic about the new regulation bringing in curious customers. “People know what they’re getting when they eat in places like this: whole, natural foods, many of them organic.” Vendetti believes diners will respond to the high calorie counts by seeking healthier options.
Calorie counts, however, are only the beginning. By April 1st Philadelphia chains will be required to display amounts of saturated fat, trans fats, carbohydrates, and sodium as well as calorie counts.
While Metzinger believes the menu-labeling is a positive step, he said this type of nutritional analysis would be impossible for restaurants that prepare food fresh daily. “To try to do some of the very detailed analysis required by this regulation would be very difficult and very expensive for us to do on a daily basis.” He added that these labels would be less necessary for Essene, as they use no trans fats and “judicious” amounts of sugar and salt.
While Metzinger is concerned that the new regulation will prevent small businesses form expanding, he expressed a
- A labeled advertisement at Burger King
sentiment that seems to be shared by most mindful eaters: “The new labels will give people more information, and more information is good.”
Whats the calorie count for just one normal slice of amish friendship bread?
I think there is no point of this regulation that businesses should state clearly how much calorie, saturated fat, trans fats, carbohydrates, and sodium in each menu. But at least by doing this, people will realize how much they are getting by eating those foods.
What we need is our understanding of healthy food. Cos nothing beats good diet.
i think that we should focus more on healthy eating to avoid diabetes and cardiovascular diseases-;-
healthy eating should be our top priority since there are many junk foods and foods with no nutritional value these days ‘`:
you can always buy cheap foods on any supermarket these days because food production is mechanized already `”-
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