Community Corner
Really Want to Know What’s in That Big Mac?
Most in Montgomery County say 'no,' according to a new survey.
By Patch Editor Whitney Teal
You may not have noticed that chain restaurants in Montgomery County post nutritional information on their menus. And, if that’s the case, you’re not alone, a new survey by the University of Maryland Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program found.
A county law that passed in 2009 and took full effect in 2011 requires restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to post the information for patrons to see.
The survey found that only about one-third of people polled looked at the nutritional information before ordering.
Of the 129 people surveyed, 41 reported reading the new menu labels. Most of the people who actually read the information said it influenced their meal choices. Two-thirds of those who read the information said they were looking mainly at caloric content.
More highlights from the survey:
You may not have noticed that chain restaurants in Montgomery County post nutritional information on their menus. And, if that’s the case, you’re not alone, a new survey by the University of Maryland Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program found.
A county law that passed in 2009 and took full effect in 2011 requires restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to post the information for patrons to see.
The survey found that only about one-third of people polled looked at the nutritional information before ordering.
Of the 129 people surveyed, 41 reported reading the new menu labels. Most of the people who actually read the information said it influenced their meal choices. Two-thirds of those who read the information said they were looking mainly at caloric content.
More highlights from the survey:
Forty-one percent of women surveyed read the nutrition information as compared to 23 percent of men.
People 25 to 39 years old were most likely to look for the nutrition facts, with 64 percent in that age group saying they read the information.
No one surveyed between the ages 18 and 24 read the information.
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