Expert: Many Underestimate Calories

Health Advocates Want To Force Restaurant Chains To List Calories On Menus

(CBS)  The calorie labeling in New York would not apply to "calorie Meccas," like Chinese restaurants, delis, and fancy French bistros. The chains were singled out because they already publish nutritional information about their food, the idea being that they’ve already done the calculating.

Wendy’s spokesperson Denny Lynch say's that's unfair. "In essence, you are penalizing the restaurant chains that are voluntarily providing information to consumers," Lynch argues.

"But if you weren’t already providing it, you were exempt?" Stahl asks.

"Yes. That is absolutely right," Lynch says.

"What was the thinking on that?" Stahl asks.

"You’ll have to ask the board of health," he replies.

"The industry feels you’re picking on the chains because they were doing something positive and they get whacked for it," Stahl tells Commissioner Frieden.

"We're saying, 'If you're doing it, put it where people will actually see it. Empower your consumers,'" he replies.

But what's healthy for consumers may not be healthy for business. In 2003, the chain Ruby Tuesday tried listing calories on its menus. Sales dropped. Soon, most calorie numbers vanished.

"Aren't you truly afraid that by listing the calories you’re going to lose money?" Stahl asks Wendy's spokesperson Denny Lynch.

"Absolutely not," he says. "If we were afraid to provide the information, why would we voluntarily provide it?"

"What restaurants are doing now is a sham. They're putting information on Web sites. And they know perfectly well that very few people see it there. They put it there so they can say they're doing something good," Frieden argues.

"What do you say to parents who are concerned that their children are overweight, and they want this information?" Stahl asks Lynch.

"I say to them that if you have a computer, log on to our Web site, and you can see that information," he says.

"That’s not easy! You're going to go take your kids out to dinner, you've worked all day, and you're telling them to go to a computer?" Stahl asks.

"We think that the poster is a good solution," Lynch says.

The poster Lynch is referring to was introduced last year by Wendy's with lots of nutrition numbers, calories amongst them. But as opposed to other displays in bright colors, the poster is drab and easy to miss.

"If people are interested in calories or they're interested in…," Lynch says.

"But what if they're not interested in calories?" Stahl asks.

"They're probably not going to look anywhere for it. If they're not interested…," he replies.

"Well, if it's on the menu board, there it is. They won't have to look for it," Stahl remarks.

"If you can provide accurate information," Lynch says.

He says that because Americans love to customize -- adding cheese or extra mayo -- providing accurate information is nearly impossible and would certainly take the "fast" out of fast food. Lynch showed 60 Minutes a Wendy's menu board that lists the combos.

"At Wendy's we offer five substitutions for the fries and then three types of drinks. So you can order a combo 234 different ways," Lynch says.

He then showed Stahl what it would look like: a dense, cluttered board, with tiny type. "Obviously … no one can read it. And you would have to see this from eight feet away," Lynch explains.

"Let me see. This is absurd. Oh my gosh," Stahl remarks.

This problem isn't unique to Wendy's. Consider Starbucks, where you can order drinks 87,000 different ways. A cup of Joe can be five calories, but order a Vente White Chocolate Mocha, add milk and whipped cream, and it nears 800 calories. Dunkin' Donuts made a mocked-up menu board to show Commissioner Frieden it would be unreadable.

"This is what they said they would have to do," Frieden says, showing a menu-board with small letters and numbers.

"Ok. Well, that is pretty tiny and I think if I were in the store and that was way up high I would have trouble seeing it," Stahl remarks.

"Very hard to read. So we asked our print shop at the health department, couldn’t you do this more clearly? And in just a couple of hours they came back with this," Frieden says, pointing out an easier-to-read health department version of the same menu board containing all the same information.

[konabike]

YB Fat..... should not ever be FAT!

[vick743]

What a total waste of time this article (and show) was. One more way to increase the food expense, confuse the menu for people who largely don''t measure their calories when they are home! One more stupid excuse!!

[boshoibob]

Why not put the calorie count on the recipt? They could do it by item and the total.

[sweetspirit4]

Why can''t they just print the calories on the receipt when you go out to fast food restaurants? It would be very easy to do!

[rasputin13-2009]

i just watched your story on counting calories at fast food resturants. this idea of posting calories at mcdonalds and other fast food resturants is absolutely absurd !! i would have to take a calculator with me just to order a sandwich. most people eat what they want to eat regardless of the calories. and if your that concerned about calories stay home and eat your own lettuce and rabbit food

[schwung]

Finally fast food resturants are listing nutritional values, which, being a diabetic allows us to occasionally indulge. And I have no problem going on the internet to find these values. Print it off and carry it with you. I think you were too hard on them.

[skinnyminny2]

Don''t blame fast food, blame idiot fast food customers. Anyone who doesn''t ''know'' that mayo, cream sauces and cheese have tons of fat and calories is living in a state of denial. They''re also idiots if they think that eating ''healthy'' entitles them to gorging on snacks later. The suggested idea about posting caloric information won''t help an already indulgent culture with plenty of information about the food they eat. It''s their problem, not the fast food indutry''s problem.

[nonbirder]

Good grief...now the calorie police?? As adults, we are responsible for our diets and if we are really calorie conscience, then we will have checked out the numbers online. When will the righteous leave us alone and allow us to take care of ourselves?

[frenzyoftong]

I''m sorry, I already have a mommy and a daddy, so thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Thomas Frieden (and all other nanny gov''t officials).

[flobster78]

I have one question.... How many brain cells does one human need before they know that if they CHOOSE to eat fast food, they may not be eating healthy??? At some point in life people need to be held responsible for what they eat!!!! I would also think with everything going on in the world that we have more important things to worry about and spend money on than this type of research!!! While my veiw may be "simple minded" I would hate to think that people would disaggree with me! What are your thoughts?

[purduemark-2009]

When an order is placed at each of these restaurants, a computer tells the consumer and the employee the price of each item and each add-on. How difficult would it be to have the computer tally the caloric and fat content, and include this information with the consumer''s receipt? 60 Minutes gave the fast-food talking-heads a softball tonight, and they hit it out of the park!

[tonyjusti]

To paraphrase a famous saying: "those who care (about nutrition), don''t eat (fast food), and those who eat, don''t care.

[frenzyoftong]

I''m sorry, I already have a mommy and a daddy, so thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Thomas Frieden (and all other nanny gov''t officials).

[chef2u1]

If you go out to eat you know *** well your not eating healthy. I would like to know who complains about restaurant calories to spark these investigations!
If your fat and you go to a fast food joint it''s because you like what they have and you know what your eating.
So wipe the grease off of your lips stay home and eat a salad and if you don''t want to do that, then SHUT UP!!!

[deborahk62]

I think most people could care less if calories are posted. Instead of focusing on posting calories, why not focus on getting rid of the "biggie size"? Why do we need such big portions? WE DON''T.

[bunky594]

Does this mean that when it is all said and done. My 800 calorie big Mac will cost $8.00?

[lovec4]

What is scarier than the amount of calories in a Wendy''s hamburger - the idea that the government thinks Americans so stupid and lazy that they must do everything except grocery shop for us. (But maybe they will do that soon too.)
We spend the whole day on the internet, but it is too hard to look up calorie info on a fast food site. That is the most rediculous thing I have heard in a long time. Laughable.
The NY Health Commissioner must think New Yorkers children.
If Amercians cannot take responsibility for themselves, we are in a sorry and weak state.

[farhar1963]

Do individuals not have any accountability for themselves anymore? Does the government need to do everything for people? I like to think that if people want to know they will find out for themselves. Not everyone in this country is ignorant and needs to be told how and what to eat. Maybe this guy should go after the alcohol companies next. Beerbellies, drunk drivers and teen drinking needs to stopped too.

[frenzyoftong]

I''m sorry, I already have a mommy and a daddy, so thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Thomas Frieden (and all other nanny gov''t officials).

[flobster78]

I have one question.... How many brain cells does one human need before they know that if they CHOOSE to eat fast food, they may not be eating healthy??? At some point in life people need to be held responsible for what they eat!!!! I would also think with everything going on in the world that we have more important things to worry about and spend money on than this type of research!!! While my veiw may be "simple minded" I would hate to think that people would disaggree with me! What are your thoughts?

[booch82]

The fact that the majority of the American population can''t be responsible for their own health isn''t to blame on the fast food industry. Obesity is not an epidemic caused by restaurants, it is caused by the consumer. I know better than to eat poorly when I go out to eat. Most fast food restaurants have healty options if you are willing to seek them out on your own.

[keligellar]

Let me get this straight. The premise of the N.Y. legisaltion is that Americans are obese because they don''t know how many calories they''re consuming. One, countless studies conclude that calories aren''t the primary reason people gain weight. So, right off the bat, this legislation requires posting of information that isn''t the primary driver of obesity. Two, it assumes that people eat the number of calories they do because they don''t know the actual number. What additional legislation will follow once it''s clear that Americans don''t care? Three, at no point did the story say that people are forced to eat at fast food restaurants. So, Americans are willingly eating out. Now, correct me if I''m wrong, but that sounds like free will. Where is the personal responsibility here? Fast food restaurants are not force feeding people. Americans are willingly stuffing their faces. If people truly want to know what they''re consuming, they''ll find out. If they don''t care, additional signs and legislation won''t make a difference. Let''s try something different in this country. Let''s return to personal responsibility. The power needs to stay with the people. Government has repeatedly shown it''s all about the power grab and that it can''t manage itself out of a paper bag. If this is important to us, we''ll change. If not, we won''t. Freedom of choice.

[purduemark-2009]

Here''s the equation:

OBCT = U/8

(obesity equals you over ate)

[LynnMorrow]

Shame on Lesley for not addressing the most obvious question: How many people read the nutrition labels in their own refrigerator and pantry? It''s not the job of McDonalds or Wendys to worry about my weight, and it''s not the job of the government either.
Just what we need, another government power monger grinding away at liberty.

[lovec4]

Shame on 60 minutes for reporting on this rediculous nonsense at all...

[pandak77]

I agree with how ridiculous it is to online to look at how many calories are in foods. I went on Starbucks'' website to see how many calories are in my fav caramel creme frap. It isn''t even listed.

[jwu2002]

Who really expects healthy food in under five minutes for under $5? Are Americans that hypnotized by TV and billboards? Don''t they still teach health in school?

[mushypie1]

I go to Weight Watchers and I have to say that I think the calories listed on line or in a brochure is plenty. I don''t need the calorie count to know that something is high in calories. I take it upon myself to find out the information I need to make healthy choices. I am not fat because fast food chains did not list the nutrition information. Lets stop becoming a communist country and let people take the responsibility for there own action.

[barloh83]

Leslie - your interview seemed to lower your IQ by a substantial number of points with your inability to multiply the calories in a 6" by two to achieve the calories in a footlong - and then throw in a couple hundred extra calories for cheese and mayo. If a person is oblivious to the fact that cheese, mayonnaise, creamy drinks and sauces add calories and fat to a meal, then that person deserves to be an orcha whale.

Every person is accountable for what goes in his/her body. It''s unacceptable to expect the government to "spoon feed" society information on healthy eating. It''s not the fast food industry that''s making obese people; it''s people who don''t understand that concept of putting the fork down.

[jwu2002]

Who really expects healthy food in under five minutes for under $5? Are Americans that hypnotized by TV and billboards? Don''t they still teach health in school?

[evangeline8]

How lazy! the funniest thing Lesley said was, "turn on a computer and check the calories!? That''s hard work" or something to that end. LAZY! Even if she was playing the devils advocate! I couldn''t say that in good conscience. What a lazy lazy country we are living in.

[stevefred0]

people have enough trouble keeping track of there visa / mastercard bills they do not need to count calories it will cause late payments and more trouble

[twingirl89]

I appreciate the restaurants that supply their nutritional information online because I use this as a tool when I am dieting. However, I don''t think it is their responsibility to make sure I eat better, it is mine. Educating ourselves is a personal choice.

[rshess]

I would pay to see Leslie Stalh eat that whole 12 inch Subway sub! I only order a half,... gee do you think adding mayo adds calories? Cut that sub in half Leslie and you''re under 400 calories with the mayo. At least Subway is trying and has healthy options. I''m hungty now, think i''ll go grill be a big old steak. I wonder how many calories that is, it''s not on the package.

[pavs84]

There should be a fat tax. Just like there''s one for cars driving on roads, we need one for people walking on sidewalks. I''m tired of cracked sidewalks. Also, state emissions check, for people.

[pendrag1]

Why is everyone having a cow over posting calories? For the uninformed (which there are MANY) that don''t use the net to "find their nutritional values" of their fast food, this can only be a good thing. God forbid if we might even be in the ballpark of even knowing what kind of caloric intake you''re getting on that burger. Yes, if you''re smart don''t eat fast food. FAT CHANCE. Somewhere you are going to eat out and it would be nice to make an educated choice. Make the chains take out of their advertising budget of 1 billion and post calories. You are living a fantasy if you believe our gas guzzling, beer chugging, chain smoking society has enough smarts to be responsible for what they eat. PLEASE, they are just posting calories, not taking your first born away. Here Here! Good job Subway and anyone else who is willing to take responsibility for the junk they are actually pushing.Surprise me and SHOW ME THE CALORIES!

[evangeline8]

How lazy! the funniest thing Lesley said was, "turn on a computer and check the calories!? That''s hard work" or something to that end. LAZY! Even if she was playing the devils advocate! I couldn''t say that in good conscience. What a lazy lazy country we are living in.

[tbelliotti]

I try to watch what I eat and I don''t have any problem finding the calorie content of foods in any of the fast food restuarants mentioned in your story. What I find frustrating is that I can''t purchase just a small sandwich and a small drink without paying more than I would for a combo that contains at least a medium drink, sandwich, and medium fries. If we want to make it easier for people to eat less calories I think we should either get rid of all the combo "specials", or allow people to buy meals "ala carta" so that eating less doesn''t cost more.

[keithbarry1]

Good story, but I think that the obvious reasons as to why many go to fast food is the cost of healthy foods. You eat out, or even buy it from a store and it costs twice as much as it does to buy a combo meal. With the United States importing half of their fruits and vegetables, the added costs of gas, and an areas growth. Most of the farm lands have been lost as a result of larger homes, harsh enviroments, and even the rate of farming dropping compared to the growth of other industries. How can you expect financially challenaged Americans to provide healthy foods when they are usually out of reach in costs. Lower costs on fruits and vegetables and make them more accessable to the people. When you eat out a salad can cost you $7.00, and usually small for the cost. Look at a salad at McDonalds or Burger King and they cost at least $4.00 for a small plate. I think we need to address these issues instead of pointing out why Americans are getting fat. There are many reasons for that which range from working enviroments, relationships, family life, and many other factors that have forced America to become the fast paced and fast food capital of the world.

[keithbarry1]

Good story, but I think that the obvious reasons as to why many go to fast food is the cost of healthy foods. You eat out, or even buy it from a store and it costs twice as much as it does to buy a combo meal. With the United States importing half of their fruits and vegetables, the added costs of gas, and an areas growth. Most of the farm lands have been lost as a result of larger homes, harsh enviroments, and even the rate of farming dropping compared to the growth of other industries. How can you expect financially challenaged Americans to provide healthy foods when they are usually out of reach in costs. Lower costs on fruits and vegetables and make them more accessable to the people. When you eat out a salad can cost you $7.00, and usually small for the cost. Look at a salad at McDonalds or Burger King and they cost at least $4.00 for a small plate. I think we need to address these issues instead of pointing out why Americans are getting fat. There are many reasons for that which range from working enviroments, relationships, family life, and many other factors that have forced America to become the fast paced and fast food capital of the world.

[keithbarry1]

Good story, but I think that the obvious reasons as to why many go to fast food is the cost of healthy foods. You eat out, or even buy it from a store and it costs twice as much as it does to buy a combo meal. With the United States importing half of their fruits and vegetables, the added costs of gas, and an areas growth. Most of the farm lands have been lost as a result of larger homes, harsh enviroments, and even the rate of farming dropping compared to the growth of other industries. How can you expect financially challenaged Americans to provide healthy foods when they are usually out of reach in costs. Lower costs on fruits and vegetables and make them more accessable to the people. When you eat out a salad can cost you $7.00, and usually small for the cost. Look at a salad at McDonalds or Burger King and they cost at least $4.00 for a small plate. I think we need to address these issues instead of pointing out why Americans are getting fat. There are many reasons for that which range from working enviroments, relationships, family life, and many other factors that have forced America to become the fast paced and fast food capital of the world.

[evangeline8]

How lazy! the funniest thing Lesley said was, "turn on a computer and check the calories!? That''s hard work" or something to that end. LAZY! Even if she was playing the devils advocate! I couldn''t say that in good conscience. What a lazy lazy country we are living in.

[esandles]

When New York City banned smoking from bars and public restaurants that made sense because it has been proven that second hand smoke is dangerous to those of us who do not smoke.

However, when "tubby" sitting next to me can''t figure out to stop stuffing his face with food and do some exercise, that doesn''t directly affect me while I am eating. That''s his health problem.

Therefore, I don''t want "big brother" ordering calorie counts on the menu. It''s time "tubby" took responsibility for his own actions.

[evangeline8]

How lazy! the funniest thing Lesley said was, "turn on a computer and check the calories!? That''s hard work" or something to that end. LAZY! Even if she was playing the devils advocate! I couldn''t say that in good conscience. What a lazy lazy country we are living in.

[ph2006]

I am not a regular 60 minutes viewer and now I know why. This was the poorest piece of journalism I''ve seen in quite a while. I find it hard to believe that Leslie was befuddled by the Subway menu. A woman who is trained to research, and understand information can''t understand the nutritional info? Please. And the fact that 60 minutes supported the airing of such a ridiculous and obviously bias story is quite pathetic. So much for being a serious news show that takes on the hard issues, and questions... I won''t tune in again.

[rhonda9281]

May I have fries with that! Please

[redmermaid3]

Leslie, I have to ask you, what happened to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY here in the United States? Doesn''t anyone read and educate themselves on the dangers of fast food? The fast food industry has done more than enough already. Don''t blame the corporations for capitalizing on stupid, fat, ignorant Americans who really don''t care what''s in the food as long as it tastes good.

[alwap1313]

DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do you think we are an obese society??? We are a two working parent family society plus extra job families in able to support daily costs, therefore resulting in overworked, tired, overscheduled parents and children. Fast food is an easy fix. I work very hard to try to provide quality and healthy meals, however time is so limited by the time I get off work, but I do try. Funny thing to all this, is I LOVE to cook....when time permits......Besides...cost of fresh veggies, etc...is so very high!!!!!!!!!!! And by the time I want to cook them, they have gone bad! I have noticed a considerable decline in how long fresh veggies keep!

Duh...I say....and I also say...kudos to McDonalds for fresh fruit options......and yogurtw/ fruit.....but they are about the only ones! Give us healthy fast food chains.....then we would all forgoe the fast food......the options need to be there in order to keep up with rising costs on just living in America, between insurance, home mortgages, gas, etc.... Don''t post a thing restaurants....we all know better...we just choose the convienence.

[jwu2002]

Calories? What about all the additives. MSG is in everything. Fast food is just garbage.

[bmikesci]

It''s great that 60 Minutes is looking at fast food and obesity. There is some belief that cutting fast food out of a diet is the best way to lose weight.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s773973.htm says that fast food may be actually addictive!! Much fast food is made from products steeped in antibiotics and growth hormones. Hormones, steroids, etc cause increased appetite and many other health problems.

Children especially are at risk of being targeted by fast food corporations. Children are more likely to be in poverty and are unable to think critically about complex health issues.

Finally, it is heartening to see a health department employee trying to protect people. Keep up the good work!