(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/Bill Branson) The FDA issued a new calorie count rule to help Americans combat obesity.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently released an order requiring all chain restaurants and amusement parks to display the calorie counts of the items in their menus. This mandate was made in accordance with the fight of the United States government against obesity, which is a prevalent condition in the country.
"Obesity is a national epidemic that affects millions of Americans," disclosed Margaret Hamburg, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner. In addition, Hamburg revealed that Americans consume roughly one-third of their calories in establishments outside their homes.
Health experts attribute this problem to the rising sizes of portions served in some establishments, as well as the practice of using unhealthy items to the dishes, as potential major contributory factors. To offer a solution to this growing health problem, the FDA ordered all business establishments that serve food and have at least 20 locations nationwide to "clearly and conspicuously" display the calorie content of their menu items.
Apart from this, business owners are also instructed to willingly provide other nutritional information, such as calories obtained from protein, fat, sugars, and …show more content…
It also requires restaurants serving alcoholic beverages to display the calorie count of such drinks while meals covered by this new guideline include all served at sit-down restaurants, pizza, bakery products, and ice cream, and take-out dishes. However, seasonal dishes, such as those served during Thanksgiving dinners, are exempted from the rule. Calorie count information for standard condiments and mixed drinks or beverages offered at a bar are not required as well. The information displayed will be based on a 2,000-calorie