Yesterday, the FDA announced two proposed regulations that would require chain restaurants around the country to post calorie counts on their menus—like New York has been doing for years. But don't worry, there are still a few safe places where no one will know how fat you are. The FDA writes, "Movie theaters, airplanes, bowling alleys, and other establishments whose primary purpose is not to sell food would not be subject to this proposed regulation."
The Times reports that movie chains protested the calorie-posting rule, so naturally the government caved and let them off the hook. However, theaters in the city already post calorie counts on their menus, so that probably wouldn't change. "Americans now consume about one-third of their total calories on foods prepared outside the home," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "While consumers can find calorie and other nutrition information on most packaged foods, it's not generally available in restaurants or similar retail establishments. This proposal is aimed at giving consumers consistent and easy-to-understand nutrition information."
However, Margo G. Wootan, director of nutrition policy of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says that just because you're scarfing down those nachos while bowling doesn't mean the calories don't matter. But if you're curious about what you're eating at the movies, they break it down for you theater by theater. Apparently at Regal Entertainment Group theaters "medium" and "large" popcorns are both 20 cups, and have about 60 grams of saturated fat. A large popcorn at AMC theaters is a "1,030-calorie behemoth with 57 grams of saturated fat." And don't forget the 120-calorie-a-tablespoon buttery topping!
