Obamacare is now counting our calories when we eat out, have some popcorn at the movies or stop at a bar for a drink. If you feel guilty about over eating or drinking, thank Big Brother.
As of Monday, all restaurants, bars and movie theaters with 20 or more outlets had to post nutritional information and calorie counts for every item on their menus, NBC News reported.
The rule initially was meant to be enforced in 2010, under the Affordable Care Act, but the Food and Drug Administration was negotiating the requirements all this time with Congress and industry officials.
Then the need to implement the food and drink labeling requirements was put on hold for a year, but as of Monday there were no more delays.
The FDA noted that most Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home so, by making the calorie count and nutritional information of menu choices available, consumers might be encouraged to make "informed choices for themselves and their families."
Considering that more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and that obesity-related conditions are the leading causes of preventable death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, campaigning to inform the public about the nutritional content of their food choices has been held over from the Barack Obama era.
A 2016 study reviewing the impact that menu labelling in restaurants had on consumers found the outcome was mixed.
"The strongest data evaluating purchases at typical fast-food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King suggests labels do not alter consumer purchases," researchers said.
"However, there is evidence that labels do encourage lower energy purchases in other settings such as coffee chains, full-service restaurants, or certain fast-food restaurants."
Allen, a 48-year-old IT security specialist who didn’t want to reveal his full name, told NBC News that the calorie counts at fast-food chains were helping him to not over eat.
“I look at it to make sure it’s not overly high,” he said. “I like to keep it at around 500 calories, usually. You’ve got three meals a day and you get 1,500 to 2,000 calories for a day.”
Not all consumers are that vigilant about their diets.
One unidentified man told NBC News that he ate what he wanted, regardless of how many calories were in the meal.
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