“There are a number of complex issues involved,” writes FDA spokesman Arthur Whitmore in an email. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which was charged with writing the regulations, has found a variety of challenges. Exactly when that will occur, however, remains uncertain, because the U.S. That regulation is going national as part of the Affordable Care Act. Still, some local and state governments enacted regulations requiring numerous food facilities, including restaurant operators with more than 20 units, to list calories and other nutritional data for regular food items on their menus or menuboards. Many limited-service restaurant companies have added or emphasized lower-calorie items, launched low-cal menus, or provided data to make it easier for guests to calculate the calories in their meals. Much of the talk has been about calories, because consuming too many of those without accompanying exercise results in additional pounds.

Growing concerns over Americans’ high obesity levels have only heightened the debate, leading some observers to encourage increased governmental regulation of food, others to urge more focus on informed, unforced choice.

The nutritional value of limited-service restaurant food has been the topic of debate among consumers, critics, and operators for some time.

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