In plain sight: Calorie count law passes

Nassau County residents may love their fast food, but will knowing how many calories are in their meals deter them from placing their usual order? Within the next six months, they may have an answer.

Under the newly-passed Calorie Labeling Law, which the Nassau legislature approved 11-8 at its Sept. 9 meeting, all restaurant chains with 15 or more stores nationwide must have calorie counts on their menus within 180 days. The new law, however, does not require such restaurants to put calorie counts on their advertisements.

According to Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), who helped craft and sponsor the legislation, the new law will help residents follow healthier eating habits based on knowing the number of calories in certain foods. "I think it's going to make people more aware of what they're eating," Toback said. "I've seen this in action at Yankee Stadium. In the back of your head, you know what is high in calories, but when confronted with the reality of seeing how many calories it is, we think that people are going to make healthier decisions."

At a public hearing last month, health experts explained that a large calorie intake can contribute to obesity, which in turn can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and even death. Now that the counts will be staring back at consumers, many say they have no choice but to be more conscious of calories.

"There's no reason why a person should eat something unhealthy, especially if the numbers are screaming right at you," said Jeremy Morak, a Hewlett High School senior. "It's not worth it to eat something so unhealthy."

Hewlett High School senior Liore Shai said that he is aware of the fact that what he eats at fast food restaurants is terrible for him, but that he will continue to be a patron at such eateries because he enjoys it. "When I walk into those places I already make sure to account for the fact that I'm probably going to eat my entire days worth of calories and, more importantly, saturated fat," Shai said. "It's not something that I do all the time, so when I eat fast food I'll make sure I don't eat heavily for a number of meals afterwards, and work out more."