New York City is the first city in the US to require posting of calorie information in menus of chain restaurants. The new rule took effect last Friday.

Starting on Saturday, health inspectors can slap fines of up to $2,000 on fast-food and casual-dining chains if calorie counts are not displayed on their menus in the same font and format as the name or price of food items.

The move follows the city's 2003 ban on public smoking and a ban on artery-clogging trans fats that began on July 1.

The rule affects such restaurants as McDonald's; Burger King; Applebee's, operated by DineEquity Inc; dunkin donuts; Starbucks and Subway.

Well, obesity remains an epidemic in the United States. However, a person's decision to change his eating habits and lifestyle remain a big key to battling obesity and even diabetes, IMHO.

Even experts are skeptic that the said ruling will not impact the eating habits on consumers. But then at least, they see on the menu how much calorie what they are ordering has, right?

New Yorkers appeared unfazed by the rule, and some said they would not be dissuaded from ordering a 540-calorie Big Mac at McDonald's or a 440-calorie Iced lemon Loaf at Starbucks.

"I'm going to eat whatever I'm going to eat," said Erika Roberson, 19, leaving an Applebee's restaurant in Brooklyn.

Looks like everyone has varying opinion. We'll see if other cities do the same. Why don't just the government require fast food chains to serve only low-calorie, zero-transfat foods? I know...bad for business and others might say a Big Mac isn't a Big Mac without those. ;-)

News and Photo Source: Reuters