Among those found guilty were Dunkin' Donuts, T.G.I. Friday's and McDonalds. Deputy Commissioner Jessica Leighton of the Health Department told the New York Post, the city is not yet fining the violating restaurants since the law was still on a educational phase. "We are trying to help the owners of the establishments understand the new rule," Leighton said.
So far only about 25 percent of the city's 2,000 dining spots comply with the new rule. Leighton pointed to Dunkin' Donuts for having 11 booths that failed to follow the law. Stephen Caldeira, spokesman of the Donut chain promised to have all of its outlets carry the required calorie count on its menu by July 18. McDonald' has 12 erring stores.
That is the absolute deadline for all restaurants to comply with the law or face a fine ranging from $200 to $2,000.
The information has caused a shift in consumer habits. Since Dunkin' Donuts 243 Third Ave. outlet placed calorie counts starting May 20, Amin Bashirul, a food attendant, noticed a regular customer stop purchasing a chocolate chip muffin after he found out it has 630 calories.
The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration, at a hearing Friday at a federal appeals court, backed New York City's law that required dining establishments to print the calories of their cooked meals on the restaurant menu.
Aside from the FDA, the Justice Department, commented on legal papers sent to a panel of Manhattan Federal Appeals court judges, quoted by the New York Daily News, that, "A menu or menu board is an entirely permissible means of such disclosure."
