Taco Bell, Pizza Hut to begin supplying calorie information on menus

New York City recently began making restaurants post calorie information on their menus as a part of a broader initiative to curb obesity related health issues in the city. 

A December 2006 New York Times article sums up the law:

"The point of the measure, part of a food-regulation package that will also eliminate trans fats in restaurant kitchens, is to help prevent obesity and the diseases that go along with it. Health officials hope that once someone sees that a Starbucks mocha made with whole milk and whipped cream has 420 calories, the 160-calorie latte made with skim milk will seem the wiser choice.

“They may not have an idea of how many calories they need, but they know what’s bigger and what’s smaller,” said Dr. Lynn Silver, an assistant commissioner with the city’s department of health."

I live in New York City and as a health conscious individual, I have thoroughly enjoyed having this information available to me.  Even as I write this, I’m eating a sandwich that is about 120 calories below what I would have ordered without the information.

I was pleased then, when I found out that Yum Brands food, the parent company of fast food chains  Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food have decided to voluntarily post this information nationwide.  Here is an excerpt from their October 1 press release:

“Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) today announced that its U.S. divisions, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food, will become the first national restaurant chains to begin voluntarily placing product calorie information on their respective menu boards in company-owned restaurants nationwide.  Franchisees will be encouraged to provide the same information on their menu boards.  Calorie information will be based on individual serving sizes and will be phased onto menu boards beginning this year and completed by January 1, 2011.  The Company also will call for federal legislation using the recently-enacted legislation in California as a model to establish uniform guidelines for menu board labeling with calorie information.

As part of a broader Health and Wellness effort across the United States, the Company also announced a new policy not to advertise its products on television programs specifically aimed at children under 12 years old.  It also will continue to provide full nutritional information on its Web sites and in brochures, available upon request, at its restaurant drive-thru windows and in-store ordering counters.  Additionally, the Company will launch national on-line exercise programs, featuring renowned University of Louisville men’s basketball Coach Rick Pitino, to help educate consumers about maintaining a balanced lifestyle.  In early 2007, both Taco Bell and KFC were pioneers in switching to cooking oils with zero grams trans fat per serving.  Each of the company’s brands is looking at ways to reduce sodium and making continuous improvements to the nutritional profile of its products.

“We believe we have a continued responsibility to offer “Better For You” options, educate consumers about the foods they eat, and promote exercise so they can maintain a balanced lifestyle,” said Jonathan Blum, Yum! Brands chief public affairs officer.  “Our customers have told us they would find calorie information useful, along with other nutritional information we make accessible in restaurant brochures and on our Web sites.  We now call on the U.S. Congress to enact federal legislation that would create uniform menu board guidelines for all who sell prepared food so there is a consistent way to educate the public about the nutritional value of the food they eat.”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) praised Yum! Brands for adding calorie counts to its menu boards.  “Yum! Brands groundbreaking announcement that it will add calorie counts to the menu boards at KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell is fabulous news for health-conscious consumers.  Yum! is leaping ahead of all its competitors by providing the one piece of nutrition information that consumers most want.  We applaud this move and encourage other major chains to follow this bold example.  Yum! has gone an important step further by voicing its support for legislation that would require restaurants to list calories on menus and menu boards,” added Michael Jacobson, CSPI executive director.

“This announcement that calories will be displayed on menu boards deserves loud applause,” said Walter Willett, chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard University’s School of Public Health. “Yum! Brand's call for national legislation to create uniform menu board guidelines on nutrition is greatly appreciated.  It is exactly the kind of industry leadership that we need.”