ERIE CO. -- Before you bite into a big juicy burger and salad smothered delicious dressing, you may start thinking twice about it. A new program in western New York may have people re-thinking what they order at restaurants in Erie County.
At 200 locally owned restaurants, you'll now find calorie counts, fat content and other nutritional information posted next to menu items.
The project is a collaboration between the western New York chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association and Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo.
County health officials say bad nutrition and obesity are among the Buffalo area's most pressing public health problems.
As you might imagine, this story is already getting reaction in cyberspace.
One online reader writes, "I like the idea - clearly posting the calories in a dish will make it much easier to tell which ones taste the best."
Another says, "Transparency is a good thing...obesity in America is an epidemic. Concrete data does help influence peoples decision in many cases. This is just helping people who are empowered to make a healthier change."
Another says, "Well let me put it this way. If I'm taking my wife to some avant-garde restaurant, and spending $50.00 dollars a plate. The last thing I will give a hoot is the calories. Fattening or not."
This isn't the first time we've seen restaurants post nutritional information. Walk into Panera Bread, for example, and you'll find calorie counts next to its menu items. In fact, by next year you'll find that at most chain restaurants thanks to a law signed by President Obama. It requiring calorie information on menus and drive-through signs of every big restaurant chain.
Do you like the idea of posting nutritional information on menus? Would it make you think twice about what you choose? Do you think restaurants should be required to post this information or do you think lawmakers are overstepping their boundaries? Leave your thoughts below.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
