Calories on the Menu

DINERS will know how many kilojoules they are about to consume when restaurant chains and fast food outlets are forced to display them on menus from February.NSW will become the nation's first state to force fast food chains to reveal their energy counts or face heavy fines and penalties under the new Fast Choices legislation.The chains will have to display the average energy content of the foods they sell as well as the average adult daily energy intake of 8700kJ. There are about 40 chains, with a total of about 2700 outlets, that are covered by the law. These include supermarkets and bakeries, as well as pizza, coffee and juice bar chains that serve ready-to-eat foods in standard portions with regular sizes and content.While other cafes and restaurants were not required to display the information, the NSW Food Authority said they would be encouraged to do so. McDonald's has already promised to reveal its energy information by November and other chains are set to follow soon after.