Costco Connection

INFORMEDdebate
YES
from members:

Paul Batie

Scottsdale, AZ

It’s important to be aware of and monitor appropriate, nutritious food intake.

Krystal Lahr

Santa Maria, CA

[When] grabbing food on the run we have to have the option to make better choices.

PHOTODISC/CHRIS A RUSNAK

Charlene Foss

Park Ridge, IL

Should restaurants

Consumers should
be able to make a
fully informed deci-
sion about nutritional
choices. It may influ-
ence how they order,
especially with children’s food.

nutrition information? ^NOfrom members:
have to disclose

Jerry Sparks Huntsville, AL MORE THAN 20 states, cities and counties are considering legislation _In ₃₀ _years _as _a _restau-and regulations that would require fast-food and other chain restaurants ^rant ^owner, ^I’ve ^only ^hadto provide calorie counts and other nutrition information on menus and ^two ^requests ^for ^thisinformation. It’s expen- menu boards. sive to have testing Supporters note that the incidence of obesity and chronic diseases linked ^done ^and ^the ^cost ^would ^haveto be passed on to the guest. to diet continues to rise. More Americans are dining out, and it’s tough to order healthfully when you cannot make an informed decision about what is ^Mary ^Ann ^Leathermanon the menu. ^Aurora, ^COGoing out to eat is a Critics argue that the process of ordering, preparing and delivering res- treat, once in a while. taurant food is different than the process of purchasing packaged foods in a ^I ^don’t ^need ^to ^know.grocery store, and menu labeling would place an unrealistic burden on restaurateurs. Therefore, they say, a one-size-fits-all mandate is not the answer. What do you think? ^Michael ^BrooksPrairie, TX Restaurants do provide Find out more about this topic on the Web: ^that ^information ^if http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/02/american-cancer.php ^asked. ^It’s ^the ^consum- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june08/food_01-14.html ^ers’ ^{responsibility} ^to ^be http://usfoodpolicy.blogspot.com/2008/02/obesity-societys-president-protests.html ^aware ^of ^what ^they ^are ^putting ⁱⁿ ^their ^bodies.