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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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6

Sure, We Read the Calorie Charts—Then Eat More

Customers say they seek guidance from signs, but receipts tell a different story

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(Newser) – A new study casts doubt on the effectiveness of calorie-counting charts in fast-food restaurants. Half of those surveyed in New York City say they noticed the charts, and about 28% say the information influenced their orders for the better. But a look at overall customer receipts shows people are ordering slightly more calories than they did before the signs went up in 2008.

“I think it does show us that labels are not enough,” the lead author of the study tells the New York Times.

The drive-thru menu of a McDonald's restaurant in Manhattan.
The drive-thru menu of a McDonald's restaurant in Manhattan.   (AP Photo)
A McDonalds drive-thru menu in New York printed with calorie counts for each food item.
A McDonalds drive-thru menu in New York printed with calorie counts for each food item.   (AP Photo)
A worker puts up new menus featuring calorie counts at a Subway restaurant in New York.
A worker puts up new menus featuring calorie counts at a Subway restaurant in New York.   (AP Photo)
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6 comments
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Aelius28
Oct 6, 09 12:05 PM CDT
Could it be because the menu items are even shittier than before? *Gasp* no wai !!! Seriously, did you know Burger King has something called the "Angry Triple Whopper"? A disgusting ball of SHIT that has 1200 calories, 91 grams of fat and people actually post YouTube videos of themselves eating this item in the fewest bites possible. Reply
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-1
Enoughie
Oct 6, 09 1:29 PM CDT
Posting calories is not enough. They might as well tell you "you're fat" when you're ordering, it's not gonna make a difference. Here's an advice: if you care about your health or diet - don't go to fast-food restaurants! Reply
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+3
TwitClicker
Oct 6, 09 2:49 PM CDT
I created a tool that helps manage eating habits in a beautiful way. Please have a look at http://www.twitclicker.com to create your routine and to see how different areas of your life are related. Powerful graphs help you understand how stress affects you individually (cravings, migrane, …) and what works best for you to interrupt the cycle (time with friends, workout, cutting down on coffee, …). If you have an iPhone, this is the link to the app store where you can see the program description: http://bit.ly/xB5Cv Reply
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zackmasson
Oct 6, 09 5:54 PM CDT
LOL, obviously most people who eat at fast food establishments don't give a shit about stuff like that. I eat fast-food maybe 10 times a year. And I can happily say im very healthy. If you eat at mcds often you have NO excuse. My aunt lives on fast food and her two girls are .... obese. I feel sorry for them. Reply
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Netstorm2k9
Oct 6, 09 8:25 PM CDT
All this article did was make me hungry. Reply
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+1

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