This is going to be short and not so sweet: New York City is starting to enforce its menu labeling ordinances. Yes, restaurants must publish in their menus the nutritional information of each item on the menu. While this, at first glance, sounds like a reasonable idea, it is actually fraught with problems. First, no two entrees are made or served exactly alike (even in the same restaurant by the same cook), meaning that the static nutirtion information on the menu is just a guideline, at best. Second, not all restaurants are required to post this information, just restaurants with a certain number of locations, thus having a disproportionate impact on businesses with more than the set number of locations. Third, is enforcement going to go to the extent of testing the foods to determine if the nutrition information is correct? Fourth, what about daily specials that do not appear in the regular menu? Fifth, and finally for my short rant - this idea is originally aimed at the obesity epidemic in this country. Yes, we have an obesity epidemic, but doesn’t everyone already know that a greasy burger and fries are going to have more fat and calories (and probably sodium) than a grilled piece of chicken with roasted veggies and a side salad? This is a little too “big brother” for me. Yes, I know a pepperoni pizza with extra cheese is not exactly a healthy and low fat menu choice, but I don’t need a restaurant to tell me so. Actually, I prefer that they don’t tell me as I’m biting into that nice, hot piece.
What do you think?
1 response so far ↓
Marinade Dave // July 23, 2008 at 9:37 pm |
I agree, hands down! I wrote “Should restaurants be required to list calories and fat grams on their menus?” Too much Big Brother is an understatement.