Schenectady County Adopts Calorie Posting Law

Tuesday evening, Democrats on the Schenectady County Legislature voted in favor of a local law sponsored by Susan E. Savage, Chair of the county Legislature, to require mandatory posting of caloric information on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants. Such information, clearly displayed at the point of decision, will allow consumers to make informed choices when they choose to eat out.

“It’s important that we provide the information necessary for individuals to make smart, educated choices about the food they are eating,” said Susan E. Savage, Chair of the County Legislature. “People will now be able to make informed choices thanks to this important legislation.”

Representatives of the American Cancer Society and other public health organizations attended the public hearing on the legislation and spoke in support of the measure. These groups were supported by recent research in favor of menu posting. A recent Stanford University study on calorie posting on restaurant menu boards at Starbucks shows that it lowers customers’ calorie counts per visit without harming business (Starbucks locations within 50 meters of a competitor actually had an increase in Starbucks revenue). Two studies from the American Journal of Public Health have demostrated the positive impact of calorie posting on allowing consumers to make informed decisions(June 2008, February 2010).

Schenectady County has joined New York City and Albany, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties in requiring menu postings in New York State. The law was adopted by a vote of 12 to 2 (1 absent) with both Republicans on the county Legislature voting against this common sense legislation to provide consumers with more information.

Click here for more information.
Click here for more news coverage.