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Start counting calories in NY

New York restaurant owners vowed to fight a new rule requiring that they post the calorie contents of their meals.

In a saga that has stretched out over nearly two years, the measure adopted by the city health department will come into effect on April 25.

High-volume chains such as Starbucks have already begun posting the calorie contents of foods and drinks, with fines scheduled to be levied on June 6 with non-compliers, while some are holding out hope the notion will disappear altogether.

The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA), representing owners of the city's food establishments, said it would appeal the rule at a hearing.

NYSRA lawyer Nancy Milburn is seeking relief against the Board of Health and the Commissioner under the first amendment to the constitution, which guarantees free speech and expression.

The NYSRA represents 7,000 restaurateurs in New York State and 3,000 in New York City.

"This case is going to last for months. The appeal will be heard months from now, tomorrow the judge will just decide the stay," said Kate O'Brien Ahlers, communications director for the New York City Law Department.

In 2004, medical studies showed that 21.7 percent of the population of New York was obese – a 70 percent spike in 10 years.

Major fast food chains represent more than a third of all meals served in the city.

On average, meals served at chains like McDonald's, Domino's Pizza and Chipotle exceed by 300 calories – or sometimes double – the 750 calories per meal recommended by nutritionists, studies have shown.

Do you think that it's time for SA's fast food chains to be more transparent about the calorie contents of their products?

Start counting calories in NY People must take responsibility for them and not shift the blame onto others such as restaurateurs. If people led a healthy lifestyle then it would not be necessary to be calorie conscious. On the other hand, if those calorie conscious people were serious about what they eat they would have a fair idea in any case as to what they ordered and ate without having to burden people such as restaurateurs. When something is ordered, consciously look at what is on the plate and decide immediately, 'I can eat all of it', or 'I must only eat some of this'. Decide then as well, whether you then should also order afters (pudding) and have wine - do not blame the restaurateur. Choose wisely, what is on the menu. Take responsibility; do not shove it off to others. - Charles Willers   Food Police Those of us who live in Manhattan (New York City) are pretty healthy. I guess the people in the State of NY are the fat ones. In any case, it would be an infringement of our personal rights for Mayor Bloomberg to police what we put into our mouths. Paying the food police is also a dreadful waste of money. It's not like people don't know how fattening some food is. They just eat it anyway. - Africanmermaid       Name Email Subject Comment