The Nachos Bell Grande and the Chicken-and-Biscuit Bowls served up at Yum Brands franchises Taco Bell and KFC remain guilty pleasures. But it will soon be easier for patrons of these restaurants — as well as Yum's Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W outlets — to figure out just what kind of calorie wallop these fast-foods pack.
Yum recently announced that it post calorie counts on indoor menu boards. The move is voluntary, which deserves applause, and comes as various states and cities across the nation consider regulation mandating nutrition info. Yum owns 20,000 fast-food locations. Company officials have said they'll implement the policy immediately in about 4,000 stores and make sure the rest are compliant with the new policy by 2011.
With obesity a major public health problem, Yum deserves praise for ensuring consumers have easy access to this info. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit group that decried fettucini alfredo as a "heart attack on a plate,'' lauded Yum for truly "thinking outside the bun."
Right now, you often have to search the web to find out the often surprising calorie counts of restaurant food. The info out there is usually depressing. The KFC Chicken Pot Pie? Almost 800 calories. It's even worse at Applebee's, which currently does not post nutritional info like Yum is planning to do. That Southwest Philly Roll-up with sour cream, salsa and fries comes in at over 2000 calories for a serving.
Will the calorie counts deter those who eat at these restaurants regularly? Maybe. Maybe not. But letting consumers easily access calories counts certainly provides them valuable food-for-thought. Solving the obesity epidemic involves taking personal responsibility. The calorie information may help push some towards making healthier choices.
