McDonald's restaurants across the U.S. will soon get a new menu addition: The number of calories in the chain's burgers and fries.
The world's biggest fast-food chain said Wednesday that it will post calorie information on restaurant and drive-thru menus in the U.S. starting Monday.
In a statement to The Canadian Press, McDonald's sa国际传媒 spokesman Louis Payette wrote that with regard to nutrition information in restaurants, "the conversation has progressed differently in sa国际传媒 than it has in the U.S."
"McDonald's sa国际传媒 is actively working with all levels of government, NGOs and industry stakeholders to develop an appropriate 'Madeinsa国际传媒' solution to displaying comprehensive nutrition information that is easily accessible to customers prior to purchase," Payette wrote.
He also noted that McDonald's sa国际传媒 is a "longtime industry leader" in providing nutrition information, introducing its first Food Facts brochure more than 30 years ago. Payette says nutrition information is also available on posters, trayliners and selected packaging, as well as through an online nutrition calculator and mobile app.
McDonald's Restaurants of sa国际传媒 Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants across the country.
South of the border, the move to add in calorie counts on U.S. menus comes ahead of a regulation that could require major chains to post the information as early as next year.
"We want to voluntarily do this," said Jan Fields, president of McDonald's USA. "We believe it will help educate customers."
In U.S. cities such as New York and Philadelphia, where posting calorie information is already required, however, Fields notes that the information has not changed what customers choose to order.
"When it's all said and done, the menu mix doesn't change," she said. "But I do think people feel better knowing this information."
