Yum Brands, the parent company of A&W All-American Food, KFC, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, will begin posting calorie information from its menu selections in restaurants nationwide this year with the goal of having all its restaurants compliant by Jan. 1, 2011.
Jonathan Blum, a spokesperson for the Yum Brands, told The Associated Press, "We believe this is the right leadership role ... to be providing more information so consumers can make better-informed purchase decisions about the food they eat."
"It's not going to defeat obesity instantly," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "But calorie labeling is one of many elements that needs to be adopted to help Americans lose weight."
Mr. Jacobson called Yum Brands' decision a "game changer" and said he hopes others would follow its "bold example."
"We think every supermarket, restaurant, convenience store - anybody who sells prepared food - ought to follow one standard, uniform guideline," Mr. Blum said.
Not everyone, however, appeared ready to get on the calorie listing bandwagon.
McDonald's offers nutritional information on its website. Walt Riker, a company spokesperson, told The Associated Press, "Customers are telling us that they are satisfied with the information we're providing."
Denny Lynch, a spokesperson for Wendy's, said, "Consumers are already saying, 'Boy those menu boards are hard to understand.' Now you add a whole extra set of numbers."
Yum Brands' Blum said the company is not concerned that listing calories might negatively affect sales. "All food can be part of a balanced diet if eaten in moderation and balanced with exercise."
Yum Brands has roughly 20,000 restaurants operating in the U.S. with 4,000 being company-owned.
Discussion Questions: Is it a good or bad move for Yum Brands to list calories information on its menu boards? Will others follow? Will government bodies require this information in the future?
[Author's Comment] New York currently requires some chains to post calorie information in restaurants. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation requiring chains with 20 or more restaurants to post calorie information on menu boards beginning in 2011.