Foodie movement spurs a super-sized change

PHOENIX — Fast food and chain restaurants are hustling to catch up to new regulations for calorie counting that are a response to a growing consumer trend.

Some outlets are responding with healthier menu options. For example, Taco Bell stores now feature a Fresco Menu, bearing the slogan “Less Fat. More Taste.” Their official website freely gives caloric content and fat amounts. Calorie counts and nutritional information are now even being placed next to cashiers at each location.

Other fast-food chains are attempting to save their consumers calories by making nutritional changes.

Starbucks claims to have saved the nation 17 billion calories since last October by swapping 2-percent milk for whole. A McDonald’s large French fry order has dropped to 500 calories from 570 calories last year. Quiznos is testing smaller portion sizes and Dunkin Donuts has added a new low-calorie egg-white sandwich to their menu.

But some nutritionists and health-conscious Americans are not entirely convinced that decreasing calories is the answer to weight problems.

“Just because certain foods have less calories doesn’t necessarily mean they are better for you,” says Karen Seymour, owner of Sole Sports Running Store in Tempe. “Sometimes they pump in artificial sweeteners that are worse for you than the calories.”

Two proposals making their way through Congress would make calorie posting mandatory nationwide.

The Labeling and Nutrition Act would allow grocery stores and restaurants that already sell prepared foods to choose their labeling format. This includes posters or disclosures near the back of the menu. The proposal is backed by the restaurant industry.

Then there’s the Menu Education and Labeling Act, which is supported by public health advocates. It would require chain restaurants to provide calorie counts directly next to menu items. Vending machines would also be required to display the number of calories per item.

“I think it would be a great idea if Congress passed that law,” Seymour says. “I really don’t think people understand just how many calories are in the food they are eating. If I were to see something on a menu that had the same size meal for 650 calories or 320 calories I would definitely pick the 320 calories. I think most people would.”

In New York, restaurants with 15 or more locations were recently forced to display calorie counts on the menu next to food items under a new city code championed by the health commission and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. City health inspectors now issue violation notices for restaurants that do not have calorie counts beside prices on their menu boards.

Mixed reactions have been a result of the calorie-posting requirement in New York.

“Congress shouldn’t pass any laws relating to this type of stuff. More government is not the answer. People need to take personal accountability for what they eat and the amount of what they eat,” says Wendy Williams, who studied holistic nutrition in college.

Harvard University Dining Services recently removed calorie counts from index cards composed of nutritional information for dining halls. Parents and students were concerned that displaying calorie counts would affect students in an unhealthy manner and perhaps lead to eating disorders.

Even with the law receiving mixed reviews, some companies are following along. Coca-Cola and M&M’s are now planning on printing their calorie counts on the front of their packages voluntarily.

“When consumers are aware of what they are eating, they are more willing to make better food choices. So, I think that providing information to consumers is definitely a step in the right direction,” says Dr. Colleen O’Brien, an ASU professor who teaches a class on food and culture.

Another noticeable trend is the emergence of the 100-calorie pack sold in grocery stores. Participating vendors include Nabisco, Mars Snackfood, and Kellogg’s.

Shoppers are also searching for healthier options when it comes to cereal and cereal bars. Weight Watchers, The South Beach Diet, and Kellogg’s Special K are among healthier choices for consumers.

With the emerging trends in health foods, some are interested to know where this seemingly sudden increase of health awareness originated.

“Concern about weight gain varies by region in the U.S. and by socioeconomic status. Studies reveal that the weight of your family and friends does affect your own weight concerns,” O’Brien says. “If you see your friends and family trying to eat healthy you will tend to eat more healthy too.”

The answer to the weight problem is not definite. Nutritionists and health-conscious Americans differ in their proposed solutions.

“Consumers should have significantly more education as to what they place in their bodies for nourishment,” Williams says. “An occasional hamburger and fry isn’t going to kill someone. It’s the people who eat said meal daily or more than once per day in excess who have the issues.”

= = =

>>Email the editor at aklaw@zoniereport.com.