Restaurants Redo Menus Ahead of New Regulations

Chains are scrambling to reformulate dishes to reduce calories before the new menu law goes into effect.

June 24, 2011

BURBANK, Calif. - With the new menu-labeling law set for implementation by the end of this year, restaurant chains across the country are revamping their menus to lower calorie counts, the Los Angeles Times reports. Chains with 20 or more locations must post caloric data alongside every menu item sold.

For example, IHOP transformed its bacon-and-eggs breakfast (1,160 calories) into a turkey-bacon-and-egg-whites breakfast (350 calories). Panera Bread Co. slashed mayo, salami and bread to lower calorie counts in its sandwiches, while Starbucks debuted mini-cakes and donuts.

"We??re going into a new era," said Anita Jones-Mueller, a nutrition consultant. "Never before have calories been on every chain restaurant menu in the United States. It's a game changer."

Some analysts are predicting that chains that quickly respond with new or reformulated options will have more success. "That's going to be the big trade-down this year ?" not money, calories," said Steve West, restaurant industry analyst for Stifel Nicolaus & Co.

"Our goal was to move away from these things that we called 'gotchas?? on the menu," those options clocking in over a thousand calories, said Scott Davis, chief concept officer for Panera.

Nutrition analysts point out that some recent studies indicate people usually make very few changes when seeing calorie counts, and experts don??t think frequent fast-food eaters to modify their choices once the new law takes effect.

"If you're going to a hamburger fast-food chain you are going to have a burger and you're willing to live with a higher calorie count," said Brad Haley, top marketing officer for CKE Restaurants Inc. But that doesn??t mean CKE isn??t changing things, like adding turkey burgers to Carl??s Jr. menu.

NACS has a fact sheet on menu labeling regulations.

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