LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Curious about how many calories are packed into that burrito or fried chicken you crave? Fast-food company Yum Brands says it’s taking the guesswork out of counting calories. The parent of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W said Wednesday it will add product calorie information to menu boards in its company-owned restaurants nationwide.
Calorie counts will go next to a product’s name and price.
Yum’s decision was cheered by a consumer watchdog group, which said the initiative should help shrink waistlines by steering people to healthier choices.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday requiring chains with at least 20 restaurants in the state to list calorie counts for standard items beginning in 2011. New York City also requires some chains to post calorie counts.
But Wendy’s spokesman Denny Lynch said fast-food menu boards are already crowded. “Consumers are already saying, ‘Boy, those menu boards are hard to understand.’ Now you add a whole extra set of numbers,” he said. The Associated Press
