New Menu Label Law May Help Food Franchises

According to this article, " California this week became the first state to require restaurants with at least 20 locations to list their calorie counts on menus and menu boards." The advantage for consumers may be obvious, but there was some concern that restaurant operators and food franchises might view the menu labeling requirement a consideration of time and expense. However, proponents feel that the requirement will help consumers combat health problems and some California franchisees do not consider the laws a problem. "Dick Shalhoub, who owns 21 Inland McDonald's restaurants, said McDonald's has already begun listing calorie and other nutritional information at its restaurants nationwide. The California measure should not prove a hardship for his franchise company. "There's going to be the matter of printing and putting up more signs, but that's minor compared to the benefit to consumers." Shalhoub said.