Canuck Doughnut Standby Supplants Dunkin' in Wary NYC

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

(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. More»

People want to leave the office

(NEWSER) - Dunkin’ Donuts has a new iPhone app, and it’s a dud, writes Matthew Shaer for the Christian Science Monitor. “Dunkin’ Run” users can send emails to their coworkers notifying them of an impending run; the app makes a list of orders and the “runner” heads to Dunkin’. The problem: “Someone in DD HQ obviously thinks that office workers want to stay in their cubicle.” More»

(NEWSER) - McDonald’s will roll out its deluxe Angus burger nationwide later this year, the Chicago Tribune reports. Until now, the one-third-of-a-pound burger made with premium beef has been available only in a handful of test markets. Though the fast-food chain has said publicly it would delay the launch until next year because of the economy, the Tribune obtained an internal document pegging it for August. More»

(NEWSER) - British transit cops in Philadelphia to trade counter-terrorism tactics with their US counterparts were treated to an American specialty, the Daily Mail reports—Dunkin’ Donuts. The UK contingent is touring railroad terminals on the East Coast so that “our two organizations” can “work and learn from each other,” the British commander said. But when he starts talking about sharing “best practices,” you wonder what he means. More»

Even 'healthier' options can be too hefty, would-be splurgers horrified to find

(NEWSER) - As chain restaurants waddle their way toward compliance with a New York City law that requires them to post the calorie counts of food, the numbers behind the items have diners grappling with some unappetizing knowledge, MSNBC reports. The restaurant skinny is turning out to be anything but, from 630-calorie Dunkin' Donuts muffins to a pecan-crusted chicken salad at TGI Friday's, whose 1,360 calories trumped a burger and fries on the same menu. More»