Guess what? Those peanuts aren't health food

Starting next year, the Food & Drug Administration will mandate that airlines provide nutritional information (read: calorie counts) on all food served during in-flight service.

Section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on restaurant menus and menu boards, including drive-through menu boards., Now the FDA is asking that all outlets that serve food - including movie theaters, convenience stores, and yes, airlines and trains, provide the same information.

Other nutrient information – total calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein – would have to be made available in writing upon request.

The guidelines, issued late last week, will be firmed up by March 2011, but in order to implement the process, airlines will likely have to begin preparing to display the information now. Travelers will be able to find nutritional information on the menus or the travel outlet's magazine, often displayed in the seat back pocket.

Several dozen cities and states have made calorie counts part of the menu vernacular since New York City launched the requirement in 2008. What's most interesting, perhaps, is research that shows that calorie postings have little to no effect on consumer behavior.

What do you think? Will you change your order with this new information at your fingertips?

[Photo: Flickr | mrmystery]

Filed under: Food and Drink, Airlines, News, Consumer Activism