Business & Tech

Really Want to Know How Many Calories Are in That Big Mac?

Most in Montgomery County say 'no,' according to a new survey.

By Whitney Teal

You may not have noticed that chain restaurants in Montgomery County post nutritional information on their menus. And, if that’s the case, you’re not alone, a new survey by the University of Maryland Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program found.

A county law that passed in 2009 and took full effect in 2011 requires restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to post the information for patrons to plainly see.

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The survey found that only about one-third of people polled looked at the nutritional information before ordering.

Of the 129 people surveyed, 41 reported reading the new menu labels. Most of the people who actually read the information said it influenced their meal choices. Two-thirds of those who read the information said they were looking mainly at caloric content.

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More highlights from the survey:

  • 41 percent of women surveyed read the nutrition information as compared to 23 percent of men.

  • People age 25 to 39 were most likely to look for the nutrition facts, with 64 percent in that age group saying they read the information.

  • No one surveyed age 18 to 24 read the information.

  • Among people who said they didn’t read the nutrition information, most (59 percent) said it was because they already knew what they wanted; 19 percent said it wasn’t important to their decision and 13 percent said they didn’t see it before they ordered.

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