Yesterday s Sunday Times column by former chief food critic Frank Bruni discusses, somewhat ruefully, the accelerating trend toward posting calorie counts more or less everywhere food can be purchased. (This trend will be accelerated when the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, maybe next year, requiring chains of 20 or more locales to post the disquieting figures).
Bruni cites several studies showing the scatter results on real-world caloric intake before and after calorie postings, and chats about the overall impact, or lack thereof, with several experts, including NYC s Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, M.D. It seems the net benefit on reducing calorie consumption lest we forget that that is the ostensible rationale for the mandates is real, most likely, but slight. And worse, the most impressive documented reductions in fat-provoking intake have occurred in the more upscale areas, rather than amongst those who need it most obesity is a bigger problem in the poor demographic.
Counter to this summary outcome, Mr. Bruni himself notes his own, irresistible attraction to the siren call of ¦mayonnaise! Given his membership in the upper socio-demographic echelons, you d think he would learn from the calorie posting what to, and what not to, indulge in. But he doesn t, and all too often we don t either. And obesity marches on, albeit with some recent improvements.