Flickr: Aaron WebbAmerica’s fat. So many of us shovel calories down our throats like it’s going out of style! But the rest of the world isn’t much better.
As of 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) projects 1.6 billion adults, ages 15 and up, were overweight and 400 million adults were obese, worldwide.
And the latest rage to help curb obesity is printing calories on the menus of fast food restaurants. And now, Great Britain is getting in on the act.
Last summer, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency surveyed 2,000 adults and found 85% of respondents agreed eateries, like pubs and cafes, have a responsibility to clearly show what’s in their food and make it obvious at the point of sale, i.e. on a menu or something.
And now, the agency is calling on brave restaurants to lead the charge and volunteer to display calories on their menus, including takeaways (fast food joints) and canteens. The U.K. will give the initiative a 6-month test run; The Guardian reports.
Hey, it can’t hurt! Because if current trends continue, the WHO estimates that by 2015, roughly 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million adults will obese. Just imagine all the heart disease, diabetes and hypertension to go along with that!
Actually, while some people see calories-on-menus laws as an invasion of capitalism, many people like the idea. In New York City, where calories are now on menus, a survey of 100 women revealed 79% liked knowing the calories and 55% say they now order less.
And there’s also a chance the United States congress will pass national legislation regarding calories on menus. No doubt, Ronald McDonald is shaking in his floppy red shoes and dropping chicken nuggets in his pants.
Via Serious Eats.
More like this in Fast Food and Food and Health Jan 21, 2009
feeds.feedburner.com
