| In the future, when you eat out at a restaurant | | | | basis. |
| franchise in the United States, you may find some | | | | Reaction to the new legislation has been mixed, but |
| unpalatable figures printed next to the mouth-watering | | | | positive overall on the part of the restaurant franchises |
| descriptions - the fat, sodium, cholesterol and calorie | | | | and the National Restaurant Association, the industry's |
| content of every choice on the menu. Will you still | | | | trade group and the National Franchise Association. In |
| fancy that burger and fries if you know that it is going | | | | the end, the bill is a compromise between a stricter |
| to "cost" you 850 calories as well as over half of your | | | | version backed by health industry organisations and |
| daily fat or sodium allowance? | | | | one which the restaurant industry supported that |
| With obesity a major health concern in the United | | | | would not have required calorie counts to be displayed. |
| States, maybe Americans need the truth about what | | | | Most restaurant franchise chains have said that they |
| they eat at restaurant franchises. After all, shouldn't | | | | are pleased with the compromise, which appears to |
| restaurant food have the same labelling standards as | | | | be a workable solution, and are pleased that a national |
| the food we cook in our own homes? Nutritional | | | | standard is to be implemented. |
| information on packaged foods is required under law | | | | As for the consumers, they mostly appear to be in |
| by the Nutrition Labeling Education Act (NLEA) and | | | | favour of the new legislation, with many people stating |
| much in the same way, the new Labeling Education | | | | that seeing nutritional information in print next to the |
| and Nutrition Act (LEAN) will create a national standard | | | | menu items will help them opt for healthier choices. |
| for the restaurant industry. Up until now, various states | | | | However, others admit that it will make no difference |
| have enforced their own standards, which has created | | | | to their menu choices. |
| an inconsistent, patchy and confusing set of local laws. | | | | Meanwhile, in the UK, the government has announced |
| The LEAN Act will provide a national standard through | | | | that it will trial calorie counts for food sold in |
| the United States and will compel restaurant franchises | | | | takeaways, restaurant franchises and canteens. It is |
| and other eaterie chains with at least twenty locations | | | | seeking volunteer companies to display calorie content |
| to display the calorie count of its food items. Chains | | | | listings and believes that the rest of the industry will |
| would also be required to give customers additional | | | | quickly follow suit once a standardised guide is agreed. |
| nutritional information, including fat, sodium and | | | | However, unlike the American scheme, it is not |
| cholesterol content. It is, however, expected that there | | | | believed that the British plan will be backed by |
| will be some exceptions. For example, many | | | | legislation. |
| restaurant franchises have self-serve buffets and, in | | | | With obesity growing at an alarming rate on both sides |
| such cases, the nutritional information disclosed is likely | | | | of the "Pond", maybe these standards will encourage |
| to be based upon an "average" serving. The nutritional | | | | the restaurant franchise industry to develop healthier |
| content of multi-serve items (such as pizzas intended | | | | dishes. |
| for two or more persons) would be on a per-serving | | | | |