Salinas, CA FDA Moves To Curb Obesity With New Labeling : Could Reduce Diabetes, Heart Disease & Stroke Risk

Food labeling has come a long way in this country and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is moving it another step forward.  After a three year delay for new food labeling to come into effect which was part of the Affordable Care Act but was fought vehemently by pizza parlors and movie theater chains, they have finally arrived.  Rules were announced today which will require chain restaurants, pizza parlors and even movie theaters to post calorie counts on their menu or at their snack bar.  Even drink menus in bars will be required to post their calories.  Roughly one-third of the calories that we take in are consumed outside of the home, so the FDA is hoping that this ruling will be one more step in the direction of reducing obesity in this country.  "This is one of the most important public health nutrition policies ever to be based nationally, Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told The New York Times.  I think it's a great policy.  Obesity is a huge problem in this country and can lead to diabetes, stroke, heart disease and many other chronic problems.  Hopefully, no one goes into cardiac arrest the next time they go to the movies and see the calorie count on a large tub of buttered popcorn, a large coke and a big box of thin mints.