Province considers calorie counts on fast food menus

(Update)

Perhaps looking to change the channel from the gas plant scandal, the provincial Liberals announced Wednesday that it’s going to try and make a law that forces large fast food restaurants to display how many calories are in it’s items on the menu display. The Liberals also want to limit the amount of advertising of junk food aimed at kids.

Cindy Csordas has the details.

Some fast food chains publicly supported Health Minister Deb Matthews announcement. McDonalds being one of them. It says it supports a move that helps people select foods that meet their individual dietary needs.

Beside the price of a burger, fries, pizza or sub sandwhich may appear a new number to consider when buying your meal.

“It’s pretty much raising awareness right? Cause if you’re not aware, you don’t know what you’re putting in your body and that could lead to more obesity in the future.”

Matthews says she’ll introduce legislation this winter that will help people make healthier choices for themselves and their children. To help them do that, she wants it to be mandatory to put the number of calories in a food item right on the menu.

“Am I a calorie counte? No, not at all. I’m a beer drinker so I don’t count calories.”

Customers can already see calorie counts on some packaging, posters and pamphlets but not right on the menu. France Gelinas is the NDP health critic: “This information is available in a pamphlet nobody can find. It’s available on a poster when you go to the bathroom. Not useful. You put it on the menu board, 1 out of 2 will use it to make an informed choice and those choices lead to better eating.”

“I think it’s a great move so people know and think about what they’re eating.”

Dietician Helen Vandemark says this move will have the most impact on kids, whose obesity rates are climbing: “When adults are making choices for themselves it’s more convenience and price; but when making choices for their children, they’re more likely to use the nutritional information to make those choices.”

The Health Minister says details of the new law are still being worked out: “We don’t want this to capture the small mom and pop store because it’s a pretty big burden to put on them so we do want chains captured so how many locations do you need to be captured.”

Matthews says parents have been asking for this to help their children stay healthy. Vandemark says in the last ten years the rate of child obesity has doubled and this is just a small piece that’ll help tackle the problem.