Mass. Restaurant Chains To Display Calorie Information

More than 5,000 restaurants across Massachusetts will have to display calorie information on their menus by next fall.

The Public Health Council has unanimously approved the new rule for any chain with 20 or more locations in the state. The restaurants have until November 2008 to change their menus and menu boards.

The rule applies to movie theaters and drive-through menus, but not to schools.

“This is a major step in the right direction in fighting the obesity epidemic in our state,” said Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach. “We know that providing this information will help our residents make more informed choices."

The measure is similar to laws passed recently in New York City and California.