Philadelphia is following in New York, California, Oregon, Main and Massachusetts in creating a law that requires any restaurant with over 15 locations nationwide to post calorie information visibly for customers.
"Oh, so that's why I'm so fat." Image source: Newsone
Of course, without thinking too hard, this seems like a good idea for ending the obesity epidemic. When one sees the eye opening calories of a delicious and cheap dollar menu burger, fries, and soda, they will certainly jump on paying triple the price for a tiny salad that is just as unhealthy with fried, breaded chicken and creamy dressing. You get my point.
This law, just like the proposed tax on soda, fails to strike the root of the problem. Corn subsidies and government regulation in agriculture and meat factories are the main proponents in the obesity problem -- it's the quality of food, not necessarily the quantity, even though it is true that you can purchase a lot of caloric, unhealthy food in the United States at a very low cost.
Please read a past article that I wrote, titled "Don't eat the food" for more information.
Comments
Its not the solution to the problem, however making the public aware of the nutritional facts of food at restaurants is a good idea and a step in the right direction. Obesity and diabetes type 2 are driving up health care cost in the US.
Many European countries, with lower rates of obesity and diabetes type 2, regulate advertising food to children.
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