Yum Brands to add calorie info to menu boards
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Curious about how many calories are packed into that burrito or fried chicken you crave? Fast-food company Yum Brands Inc. says it's taking the guesswork out of counting calories.
The parent of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food said Wednesday it will voluntarily add product calorie information to menu boards in its company-owned restaurants nationwide.
"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," Yum spokesman Jonathan Blum said.
Yum said its calorie counts will be based on individual serving sizes rather than, for instance, on an entire pizza or bucket of chicken that a family would dig into.
Yum said it will encourage its franchisees to provide the same calorie information on their menu boards.
"We're hopeful that it will be at all of our restaurants across the United States," Blum said.
Louisville-based Yum has about 20,000 U.S. restaurants, and about 4,000 are company-owned.
The company said the calorie information will be phased onto menu boards starting this year and completed by Jan. 1, 2011. "We'll begin as quickly as we can," Blum said.
The decision comes as public policies requiring restaurant chains to post nutritional information are gaining a foothold. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday requiring chains with at least 20 restaurants in the state to provide calorie counts on menus or indoor menu boards beginning in 2011. New York City also requires chains to post calorie counts on the menu.
Yum's decision got a thumbs-up from a consumer watchdog group.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, called it a groundbreaking announcement that is "fabulous news for health-conscious consumers."
"We applaud this move and encourage other major chains to follow this bold example," Jacobson said.
Jacobson added: "I never thought I'd say this, but I salute Colonel Sanders" -- referring the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Asked if McDonald's Corp. plans to post calorie information on its menu boards nationwide, spokesman Walt Riker said the fast-food giant will continue using current methods of informing customers.
