Fast Food Calorie Counting

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

I spent a little while this past Wednesday at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point capturing images of people ordering breakfast and lunch to highlight a new regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. The new rule makes it mandatory for restaurants to list calories on menus, helping diners know just how many pounds they’ll pack on from the twice-baked potato with all the trimmings or the double and triple cheeseburgers. Restaurant operators hate the idea, arguing that the requirement is an expensive burden on them and that customers don’t pay attention to calorie counts anyway. But some say restaurateurs actually fear the numbers will turn off customers and depress sales. And they have a template for the impact: Coca-Cola. Health advocates successfully chipped away at the beverage giant’s business after linking sodas with the nation’s expanding waistline. So over the next year or so will tell if the FDA’s rule will help people make healthier choices and shrink those waistlines.

The menu board at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point features calorie information due to a new FDA regulation on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

The menu board at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point features calorie information due to a new FDA regulation on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Ty Smith orders lunch at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Ty Smith orders lunch at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

The drive thru menu board at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point features calorie information due to a new FDA regulation on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

The drive thru menu board at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point features calorie information due to a new FDA regulation on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Gale Adair orders lunch at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Gale Adair orders lunch at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Kiara Kelley (right) hands Jackie Rogers her lunch order in the drive thru at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Kiara Kelley (right) hands Jackie Rogers her lunch order in the drive thru at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Colin McChesney (right) holds his daughter Evan as they order food from Crystal Amaker at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Colin McChesney (right) holds his daughter Evan as they order food from Crystal Amaker at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Samantha Victor (left) takes Josephine Williams' lunch order at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Samantha Victor (left) takes Josephine Williams’ lunch order at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Nick Smith (right) walks to his seat carrying lunch for he and his friends  at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Nick Smith (right) walks to his seat carrying lunch for he and his friends at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Colin McChesney (left) holds his daughter Evan as they and his wife Jessica wait on their food at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Colin McChesney (left) holds his daughter Evan as they and his wife Jessica wait on their food at the Chick-fil-A off of Camp Creek Parkway in East Point on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.