New Yorkers buying lunch at several of the fast food chains in the city that post calorie information consumed 106 fewer calories than those who ate at eateries that didn’t post the calories, according to a study released today in the British Medical Journal.
Those eating at Au Bon Pain purchased 80 fewer calories. KFC customers purchased 59 fewer calories after calorie labeling went into effect and McDonald’s patrons purchased 44 fewer calories, according to the study.
Researchers surveyed more than 15,000 lunchtime customers eating at the top 11 fast food chains in New York City in 2007 and 2009, before and after the law went into effect.
In 2008, New York City law required that chain restaurants post the calorie information. The city law was adopted nationally through the health care reform bill in 2010 and will go into effect nation-wide within the next year.
