Fast Food Restaurants Have To Label Food
Updated : May 13, 2009
As a lover of food VeryHappyPig wasn’t too sure about our next entry. But after consultations with Mrs VeryHappyPig, which ended up VeryHappyPig receiving a clout around the pointed ear, VHP eventually agreed the following is in fact good and happy news.
Massachusetts is to unveil the toughest restaurant menu labelling rules in the United States on Wednesday, requiring fast-food chains to list how many calories are in the food they sell in a bid to combat obesity.
The state's Public Health Council is expected to vote on Wednesday on regulations making fast-food chains list the calorie counts of their food on their menus or menu boards.
The regulations are expected to be more comprehensive than those in California, which in September became the first U.S. state with menu labelling rules for fast-food restaurant chains such as McDonald's Corp and Yum Brands' KFC.
The action comes at a time of rising obesity in the state and in the United States, and the regulations are intended to allow people to make better-informed decisions about the food they eat.
More than half of the adults in Massachusetts are overweight or obese, according to a 2008 state report that also showed adult obesity more than doubling in 20 years. About 33 percent of Americans are overweight, while more than 34 percent are obese, according to U.S. government figures.
A restaurant calorie information rule took effect in New York City last year, and more than a dozen states are considering similar provisions.
VeryHappyPig says this is great news and something similar should be put in place in Ireland for the sake of the children and also says Mrs VeryHappyPig is beautiful!!!!
