McDonalds New Item:
SarahofTwins
Posts: 1,169 Member
Calories are being added to the menus...
"A meal consisting of a Big Mac and medium fries, for example, has 920 calories. Add a 16-ounce Coca-Cola, and the count rises to 1,140 calories." Holy smokes:noway: ...I use to eat this all the time too :laugh:
Heres the article...
NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. will soon get a new menu addition: The number of calories in the chain's burgers and fries.
The world's biggest hamburger chain said Wednesday that it will post calorie information on restaurant and drive-thru menus nationwide starting Monday. The move comes ahead of a regulation that could require major chains to post the information as early as next year.
"We want to voluntarily do this," said Jan Fields, president of McDonald's USA. "We believe it will help educate customers."
In cities such as New York and Philadelphia where posting calorie information is already required, however, Fields notes that the information has not changed what customers choose to order.
"When it's all said and done, the menu mix doesn't change," she said. "But I do think people feel better knowing this information."
The chain also plans to announce that its restaurants in Latin America, which are owned by a franchisee, will start providing calorie information on menus this spring.
McDonald's, based in Oak Brook, Ill., already posts calorie information in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
The decision to post calorie information in the U.S. follows the Supreme Court's decision this summer to uphold President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, which includes a regulation that would require restaurant chains with more than 20 locations to post calorie information. The timetable for carrying out that requirement is being worked out.
Corporate Accountability International, which has urged McDonald's to stop marketing its food to children, notes that the chain has fought efforts to institute menu labeling in local jurisdictions in the past and said its latest move was "certainly not voluntary."
Danya Proud, a spokeswoman for McDonald's, says the company didn't suport local efforts to reuqire menu labeling because it wanted a national standard.
The posting of calorie information isn't a magic bullet in fighting obesity but could have a big effect over time, says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which advocates on nutrition and food safety issues.
"Obesity isn't the kind of thing where one day you wake up and you're fat. We gradually and slowly gain weight over time," she said.
So even if only some people are swayed to make slightly better choices, Wootan thinks there's a big benefit to providing calorie information.
Another upside is that companies tend to work harder to provide healthier options when they're forced to display calorie information.
"It can be embarrassing, or shocking, so they end up changing the way the product is made," Wootan said.
Joe Finn, a sales manager from Oconomowoc, Wis., said he was surprised at the calorie information posted at a hamburger restaurant when he flew out to California earlier this year for the Rose Bowl.
"All the calories were up there, and I thought, well, I'm not going to order that," said Finn, 51, who's trying to watch what he eats. He ended up picking the most basic burger, without cheese. Back at home, he tries to stick to options where he knows the calorie information, such as Subway sandwiches.
"Otherwise you could be ordering a gut bomb," he said.
The move by McDonald's could spur other restaurant chains to move ahead of the federal regulation.
Representatives for Taco Bell, which is owned by Yum Brands Inc., and The Wendy's Co. did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for Burger King Worldwide Inc. said the chain is waiting for further guidance from regulators before updating its menus.
McDonald's is also testing healthier options for next year, such as an Egg McMuffin made with egg whites and a whole grain muffin. The sandwich has Canadian bacon and white cheddar cheese and clocks in at 260 calories. It will be called the Egg White Delight.
The chain is also testing versions of the McWrap, which is a bigger version of its chicken Snack Wrap that is already sold in Europe. The wraps have sliced cucumbers and range from 350 calories to 580 calories.
The moves reflect the pressures McDonald's and other fast-food chains are facing amid growing concerns about obesity. McDonald's is also facing competition from chains such as Subway, which positions itself as a healthy alternative to traditional hamburger chains.
McDonald's notes that it has already made strides in improving the nutrition of its food, such as the automatic inclusion of apple slices in its Happy Meals.
Sara Deon of Corporate Accountability said such offerings amount to a "PR scheme designed to drive traffic to stores to sell burgers and fries."
McDonald's menu staples have also been blamed by critics for fueling obesity rates.
A meal consisting of a Big Mac and medium fries, for example, has 920 calories. Add a 16-ounce Coca-Cola, and the count rises to 1,140 calories.
McDonald's, which has 14,000 locations in the U.S., doesn't plan to advertise the posting of the calorie information. Fields said it's something the chain is doing as a "customer convenience."
http://news.yahoo.com/mcdonalds-menu-item-calorie-counts-130845590--finance.html
"A meal consisting of a Big Mac and medium fries, for example, has 920 calories. Add a 16-ounce Coca-Cola, and the count rises to 1,140 calories." Holy smokes:noway: ...I use to eat this all the time too :laugh:
Heres the article...
NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. will soon get a new menu addition: The number of calories in the chain's burgers and fries.
The world's biggest hamburger chain said Wednesday that it will post calorie information on restaurant and drive-thru menus nationwide starting Monday. The move comes ahead of a regulation that could require major chains to post the information as early as next year.
"We want to voluntarily do this," said Jan Fields, president of McDonald's USA. "We believe it will help educate customers."
In cities such as New York and Philadelphia where posting calorie information is already required, however, Fields notes that the information has not changed what customers choose to order.
"When it's all said and done, the menu mix doesn't change," she said. "But I do think people feel better knowing this information."
The chain also plans to announce that its restaurants in Latin America, which are owned by a franchisee, will start providing calorie information on menus this spring.
McDonald's, based in Oak Brook, Ill., already posts calorie information in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
The decision to post calorie information in the U.S. follows the Supreme Court's decision this summer to uphold President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, which includes a regulation that would require restaurant chains with more than 20 locations to post calorie information. The timetable for carrying out that requirement is being worked out.
Corporate Accountability International, which has urged McDonald's to stop marketing its food to children, notes that the chain has fought efforts to institute menu labeling in local jurisdictions in the past and said its latest move was "certainly not voluntary."
Danya Proud, a spokeswoman for McDonald's, says the company didn't suport local efforts to reuqire menu labeling because it wanted a national standard.
The posting of calorie information isn't a magic bullet in fighting obesity but could have a big effect over time, says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which advocates on nutrition and food safety issues.
"Obesity isn't the kind of thing where one day you wake up and you're fat. We gradually and slowly gain weight over time," she said.
So even if only some people are swayed to make slightly better choices, Wootan thinks there's a big benefit to providing calorie information.
Another upside is that companies tend to work harder to provide healthier options when they're forced to display calorie information.
"It can be embarrassing, or shocking, so they end up changing the way the product is made," Wootan said.
Joe Finn, a sales manager from Oconomowoc, Wis., said he was surprised at the calorie information posted at a hamburger restaurant when he flew out to California earlier this year for the Rose Bowl.
"All the calories were up there, and I thought, well, I'm not going to order that," said Finn, 51, who's trying to watch what he eats. He ended up picking the most basic burger, without cheese. Back at home, he tries to stick to options where he knows the calorie information, such as Subway sandwiches.
"Otherwise you could be ordering a gut bomb," he said.
The move by McDonald's could spur other restaurant chains to move ahead of the federal regulation.
Representatives for Taco Bell, which is owned by Yum Brands Inc., and The Wendy's Co. did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for Burger King Worldwide Inc. said the chain is waiting for further guidance from regulators before updating its menus.
McDonald's is also testing healthier options for next year, such as an Egg McMuffin made with egg whites and a whole grain muffin. The sandwich has Canadian bacon and white cheddar cheese and clocks in at 260 calories. It will be called the Egg White Delight.
The chain is also testing versions of the McWrap, which is a bigger version of its chicken Snack Wrap that is already sold in Europe. The wraps have sliced cucumbers and range from 350 calories to 580 calories.
The moves reflect the pressures McDonald's and other fast-food chains are facing amid growing concerns about obesity. McDonald's is also facing competition from chains such as Subway, which positions itself as a healthy alternative to traditional hamburger chains.
McDonald's notes that it has already made strides in improving the nutrition of its food, such as the automatic inclusion of apple slices in its Happy Meals.
Sara Deon of Corporate Accountability said such offerings amount to a "PR scheme designed to drive traffic to stores to sell burgers and fries."
McDonald's menu staples have also been blamed by critics for fueling obesity rates.
A meal consisting of a Big Mac and medium fries, for example, has 920 calories. Add a 16-ounce Coca-Cola, and the count rises to 1,140 calories.
McDonald's, which has 14,000 locations in the U.S., doesn't plan to advertise the posting of the calorie information. Fields said it's something the chain is doing as a "customer convenience."
http://news.yahoo.com/mcdonalds-menu-item-calorie-counts-130845590--finance.html
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Replies
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I don't think posting the calorie counts will make a bit of difference. Most people have no clue how many calories they should be eating and I'll bet the majority of folks who eat at McDonald's already know it's unhealthy and just don't care.0
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I don't think posting the calorie counts will make a bit of difference. Most people have no clue how many calories they should be eating and I'll bet the majority of folks who eat at McDonald's already know it's unhealthy and just don't care.
Bingo.
Even a good amount of people on here dont know what a calorie is, or how it applies to them.0 -
I saw that Big Mac Meal on my drive past McDonald's this afternoon. Looks like an artery clogger like the rest of them.0
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I have never eaten anything from McDonalds in my life. The smell as you walk past one makes me feel nauseous.0
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Another reason to steer clear of high calorie items. It won't be a reason for people to turn away but it might let the few think otherwise.0
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damn..0
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I wouldn't be surprised if this had the opposite effect on people...After the initial shock of seeing such high numbers, rationalization will eventually set in.
"920 calories? That's no wore than a big mac, and I ate those every day in highschool..." etc.0 -
I so wish that every restaurant/eatery listed the nutritional information - including serving size - on all menus!0
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I'm in the Uk and the way they do it here is you know those paper liners that go on the tray, the info is on the reverse of those so most people don't realise it's there anyway! As PP's have said, everyone knows McDonalds is bad for you, this will have no more effect thtn the 'Smoking Kills' signs on cigarettes.0
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I saw this on NPR's blog today. What a great idea! Five Guys already does this. It kind of was my catalyst for joining MFP when I saw how many calories I was eating right there on their menu.
I wish every restaurant did this. With the technology available today, it isn't that hard to get accurate nutrition data. I do it all the time with my home cooked meals, for goodness sake.0 -
knowing how many calories is in a mcd's has helped me. I no longer have burgers there . I have a grilled chicken salad wrap with no sauces and a small fries instead of the large extra value meal I used to have with extra stuff added. It will definately help some people but also as others have said there will be plenty of people who it won't make any difference too!0
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I don't think posting the calorie counts will make a bit of difference. Most people have no clue how many calories they should be eating and I'll bet the majority of folks who eat at McDonald's already know it's unhealthy and just don't care.
Bingo. We already have the calories on the menu in the county I live in. It hasn't hurt McDonald's sales at all.0 -
I so wish that every restaurant/eatery listed the nutritional information - including serving size - on all menus!
Ditto, it does make a difference to me, if you don;t know how can you even attempt to compensate for it.0 -
I'm confused--McDonalds has had this for awhile? I don't live in a city or even a state that requires calorie counts. For fast food, small McDonalds fry and a grilled chicken snack wrap are the way to go. I never eat fast food anymore, but McDonalds is the one I can go to without panicking about caloric overload.0
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[Bingo. We already have the calories on the menu in the county I live in. It hasn't hurt McDonald's sales at all.
Yup. I live in the same county as you, and haven't seen the lines at the local McD's or Jack in the box change one bit. Before I started MFP, those numbers didn't affect my decision on what to eat much at all. I'd think "wow thats a lot" and order it anyway.
Now the calorie postings are helpful for me, but only because of my overall changes. I didn't specifically start looking at those numbers and changing my mind.0 -
I don't think posting the calorie counts will make a bit of difference. Most people have no clue how many calories they should be eating and I'll bet the majority of folks who eat at McDonald's already know it's unhealthy and just don't care.
Bingo. We already have the calories on the menu in the county I live in. It hasn't hurt McDonald's sales at all.
It stops me. Even when I am in a mood and I have decided I don't care, I take one look at the numbers posted on the menu at the fast food joint around the corner from my house, and keep moving. There is a difference, between "*kitten* it, I don't care today," and "What the hell, I might as well flush my whole life down the drain." I've done the math; a huge carb and butter bender of home prepared food is just about on par with a "moderate" choice (single patty burger, medium fries, small shake,) at the fast food place.0 -
Every single restaurant should have to do this, no matter the size.0
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I actually grew up eating mcd's, back before I knew what a calorie was. I don't eat it all the time, but I do still eat it, especially when I need to get calories in me and I'm short on time. In general I prefer to make my own food, but that's not always possible as I'm a busy girl. The way the calorie counts have changed things for me as far as fast food goes is I can look at it and say, I've got this, this and this to do and I might not get a break to eat again until x, how hungry am I? Will the 430 cal double cheeseburger handle it for me until then or should I eat the 940 cal quarter pounder with cheese?0
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I ate breakfast at a McDonald's in Nashville Indiana this past Sunday and I noticed they had the calories posted next to the price of each item.. I think it is a great idea.0
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the mcdonald's near my work has this already. stopped in to get a light lunch before i started my 4hour drive to my mud race and it definitely influenced what i ordered. wanted a double cheeseburger and small fries. got 6pc chicken nugget and small fry. drank water.0
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oh thanks... now I want a BIG MAC!!!0
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Every single restaurant should have to do this, no matter the size.
The amount of money that it costs to get official government testing on food items on a menu would probably be more than most mom and pop places make in a month. It's an extremely pricey thing to do and that's why the laws only require it for restaurants with 25 locations or more, since it's more likely that they would be able to offset the cost in the long run.
Also, think about the places that have menus that change seasonally, or based on what was fresh at the markets that morning. There's no way they'd ever be able to stay in business, and those are the places that people should be eating if they're eating out since it's menus and meals based on fresh, local food rather than big chains that can afford to get nutritional info analyzed.0 -
Sorry, double post.0
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Sure, people know it's unhealthy, but I don't think they REALLY realize how many calories are in things. My husband likes to eat a lot, but here recently I've been telling him how many calories are in things, and he's been cutting back. He likes to eat 3 hot dogs in one sitting, but when he realized how many calories was in 3, he freaked out and I don't think he'll be doing that again anytime soon.
I think it's a good thing. Some people will ignore it, but it will open the eyes of others.0 -
Every single restaurant should have to do this, no matter the size.
It's too expensive. That would put smaller restaurants out of business.
And the government should not force these stupid restrictions on businesses. If you don't want the food because you don't know how many calories are in it, just don't eat there.0 -
Every single restaurant should have to do this, no matter the size.
^^^ This. Most chains have their calorie counts online anyway. The people who care can find them easily. Small restaurants are much harder!0 -
I don't think posting the calorie counts will make a bit of difference. Most people have no clue how many calories they should be eating and I'll bet the majority of folks who eat at McDonald's already know it's unhealthy and just don't care.
They have them up in our mcdonalds in town already. I can easily say that it is helpful. My husband decided he wanted mcdonalds and I picked it up after work and when I went in I had planned on getting something small like a wrap and a small fry for me, saw the calories and just ordered my husband's food. Strolled across the streeet to walmart and got something for myself. I know their food isn't good for me, but it's easier to turn it down when you see the ACTUAL number every time you attempt to order..I love this idea.0 -
Every single restaurant should have to do this, no matter the size.
It's too expensive. That would put smaller restaurants out of business.
And the government should not force these stupid restrictions on businesses. If you don't want the food because you don't know how many calories are in it, just don't eat there.
I'd think people not eating at a resturaunt because they don't know the calories will cost just as much as relaminating menus after including nutrition information or changing signs..Mcdonalds is the only place in my town that actually has nutrition values either online or in the store...if I didn't eat places that dont openly offer that info, no resturant in town would have my business.0 -
Every single restaurant should have to do this, no matter the size.
It's too expensive. That would put smaller restaurants out of business.
And the government should not force these stupid restrictions on businesses. If you don't want the food because you don't know how many calories are in it, just don't eat there.
I'd think people not eating at a resturaunt because they don't know the calories will cost just as much as relaminating menus after including nutrition information or changing signs..Mcdonalds is the only place in my town that actually has nutrition values either online or in the store...if I didn't eat places that dont openly offer that info, no resturant in town would have my business.
Maybe it will, in which case the restaurant will either close or put up the information. Either way, it's the restaurant's choice and not the governments.0 -
They have it on the packaging already......and on the back of the tray liners......Not sure what a difference this will make.0
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