Nutrition labeling in many King County chain restaurants starts January 1st
Did you know that at Denny’s an order of three slices of french toast with syrup and margarine contains 1,261 calories?
Well, these and other shockers will be posted on the menus of local chain restaurants beginning January 1st.
The information will include the calorie, saturated fat, carbohydrate and sodium content of the restaurants’ meals.
The information is to be on menus and menu boards at or before the point where customers place their orders.
“Research shows that many people eat a third of their calories, and spend nearly half of their food budget, on food eaten away from the home,” Public Health – Seattle King County said in a statement announcing the new initiative.
“Many of these foods are high in sodium, fat and calories, all contributors to chronic health issues like obesity, heart disease and diabetes,” Public Health – Seattle King County says.
“More than 719,000 King County residents are overweight or obese. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death; and, in a recent 10-year period, the rate of diabetes in King County nearly doubled,” the statement said.
To educate the public about the new menu labels, Public Health will be launching an information campaign called “Be Informed, Be Healthy”.
To learn more:
- Go to Public Health – Seattle & King County’s menu labeling page and take a quiz on which fast-food items have the lowest calories. (Hint: at Dunkin’ Donuts it’s not the healthy sounding Banana Walnut Muffin—two jelly-filled donuts have less.)
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- West Nile virus found in dead crow in King County
- King County Council to vote on $50-million mental health and drug treatment plan
- Flu shots now available in Seattle and King County
