Restaurants Get an Extra Year to Put Calories On Menus
The Food and Drug Administration has pushed back its deadline for restaurants to display calorie counts. The Associated Press reported that the deadline has been pushed back from Dec. 1, 2015 to Dec. 1, 2016. Why? Because restaurants and retailers said they didn't have enough time to comply with the rule. Although restaurants have more time to comply with the rule, the agency said eating establishments are busy training workers and installing menus across the country. The rule dictates that places that prepare food with over 20 locations must "clearly and conspicuously" post the calories of their products. In addition, the menus must say that calories are based on a 2000-calorie diet, while other nutritional information should be available to a customer on request. The move comes amid a push in recent years by U.S. consumers for healthier food options. Fortune's Beth Kowitt wrote about how big food companies are transitioning to offering less processed and more natural items to buyers.