Last year the NYC Board of Health mandated that any restaurant providing the nutritional content of its food selections must also put calorie content of foods on menu boards. The rule would affect primarily fast food and other chain restaurants, since these establishments are the ones that already provide nutritional information. Supposedly, seeing calorie content upfront would warn consumers not to consume too many calories, and thus help fight the obesity epidemic. But, as ACSH has noted, that’s a feel-good action that is not supported by sound science .
Judge Richard J. Holwell of the U.S. District Court struck down the NYC ruling, stating that it conflicted with federal regulations because the law didn’t apply equally to all restaurants. In fact, that law could operate to discourage restaurants from providing nutritional information at all—and who would that action help?
The Board of Health should think its actions through—and not simply make rules that will not help, and perhaps hurt city residents.
Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., is Director of Nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).