If you've ever indulged in a large bag of popcorn and a giant soda at the movies—happily unaware of how many calories you were taking in—you're going to want to know about the new FDA rulings on calorie counts: They require that every chain restaurant, vending machine, and "similar food establishment" with 20 or more locations start posting the stats on what they're pushing, per a press release that came out this morning.
Pizza, Subs, Burgers, and Milkshakes Are All on the List
So here's the deal: Mom-and-pop shops won't be required to pay for testing to figure out how many calories are in each of their dishes—but chains with 20 or more locations will have to. Those restaurants are going to have to start posting calorie info on either menus or menu boards, along with item names and prices. Temporary and daily items, as well as condiments (we see you: ketchup, mustard, and cheese sauce) don't need a label. And fun fact: Pizza will be labeled by the slice, not just the whole pie, so no nutritional math is required.
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Alcoholic Beverages Are There, Too
Many boozy beverages you buy at the grocery store don't come with nutrition labels—and still won't have to, according to these new rulings. But the chains that fall under these regulations will have to 'fess up about the calories in alcohol-filled drinks listed on their menus (though they won't need to list calories for bottles displayed behind a bar), according to the FDA. Get ready to find out just how many cals are in that mango-raspberry-who-knows-mojito.
Vending Machines Will Be Getting Labeled Up
"The vending machine final rule requires operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines to disclose calorie information for food sold from vending machines, subject to certain exceptions," according to the FDA press release.
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Movie Theater and Amusement Park Grub? Add It to the Pile
"Entertainment venue chains," such as movie theaters and amusement parks, are also going to have to start spilling stats on the food they sell. Popcorn, nachos, funnel cakes, and fries don't seem like low-calorie options, but maybe it will be nice to know how they stack up against each other when it's time for concessions?
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Restaurants have a year to put these rules into effect, and vending machine owners have two.
If you already live in a city or county where restaurants follow similar guidelines, you might be wondering if anything will change for you under these new rulings. "Some states, localities and big restaurant chains are already doing their own forms of menu labeling," writes Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., commissioner of the FDA, on fda.gov. "The new rules will require calorie information to be listed in a consistent, direct, and accessible manner on menus in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments, and on vending machines. Under the menu-labeling rule, certain additional nutrition information will need to be available in writing when customers ask for it."
How do you think these new calorie-count rules will affect you the most? In our offices, WomensHealthMag.com editors say they might second-guess their cocktail and movie-theater popcorn purchases. Cast your vote in the poll below, then scroll on down and sound off in the comments!
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