The “activism” of the Ontario government so greatly admired by the Premier will make an appearance on the menus and Internet information of chain restaurants come Sunday. That’s when the Healthy Menu Choices Act of 2015 takes effect. As of New Year’s, any eatery with more than 20 locations will be required to post calories contained in all foods and drinks offered for sale. It seems Tim Hortons many outlets and their licentious Honey Cruller doughnuts (and others) are included. The tempting Honey Cruller is bursting with 20 grams of fat and 350 calories. One only a week for sure.
THIS MAY NOT WORK
But the exercise may not work. The same requirements have been in place in New York City since 2008 and a 2012 study in the American Journal of Public Health concluded posting calories on foods had no direct impact on what foods people chose to buy. Over time, it said, it appears people ignored the labelling altogether. However a more recent study from Tulane University suggested that the New York City mandate “plausibly reduced the obesity rate by 2.5 percentage points.”
CARNEGIE DELICATESSEN
In New York City the end is coming for the nearly 50 year old Carnegie Delicatessen. Judging by the crowds waiting to get a last taste before the place closes at the end of the year, shutting down will be the only way to stop people from eating the monster smoked meat sandwiches they serve. The Carnegie has seen good times and bad but the owner says it is time to move on. She hopes to sell the Carnegie Deli name on packaged food.
Giving folks more information is never a bad thing. Transparency over what we put into our bodies is important.