DIET: Nutrition Info Could Appear on Restaurant Menus

New Jersey is among a half-dozen states considering food labeling laws for restaurants. Under a recent proposal in the New Jersey Assembly and pending in committee, chain and fast-food restaurants with 20 or more franchises would have to post calorie counts on menu boards - Big Mac, 590 calories; Starbucks grande cafe mocha, 400 calories -and more extensive nutrition information, such as trans and saturated fats, salt and cholesterol, on menus. Similar legislation is pending in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Illinois and Hawaii, and is expected to be reintroduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, though no state currently has such a law, Malloy said. Many chain restaurants, from McDonalds to Subway, already make nutrition information available, although its not always publicly posted. Nutrition labeling bills may have gained momentum with the recent success of "Supersize Me," an Oscar-nominated documentary exposing the health risks of a fast-food diet, and publicity over a lawsuit blaming McDonalds for the obesity of teenage customers. To the New Jersey Restaurant Association, such proposals amount to over-regulation for an industry already struggling to turn a profit. "Our position is that the individual who is concerned about obesity should emphasize healthy lifestyle, personal responsibility, regular exercise and moderation," said Dale Florio, legislative counsel for the state restaurateurs. "Seventy-six percent of all meals are prepared at home. Thats where nutrition has to start." No one on either side of the issue believes posting calorie and fat content will produce drastic changes in what people eat. But proponents say such information could lead diners to make healthier selections and would provide sorely needed information to those with health problems who need special diets. Daniel J. Hoffman, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Cook College in New Brunswick commented that the added regulations are especially important because people eat out more often than ever, and people are getting fatter. "This bill pushes informed choices," he said. "The misconception is that if you are overweight you are grossly over-consuming. One hundred calories extra each day over a decade will give you 50 pounds."