Subway lists calories on NYC menu boards

NEW YORK, July 9 (UPI) -- Subway is the first large restaurant chain to list calories on its New York restaurant menu boards as required by a new law, an advocacy group said Monday.

In addition to Subway, owned by Doctor's Associates Inc., the pretzel chain Auntie Anne's Inc. is complying with the regulation and Johnny Rockets Group Inc. and Arby's LLC have submitted sample menu boards to the city, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said.

The new law, which went into effect July 1, requires restaurants that serve standardized portion sizes, and that voluntarily made calorie information available March 1, to post the information on their menu boards.

McDonald's Corp., Burger King Holdings Inc., Wendy's International Inc. and other fast-food members of the New York State Restaurant Association have refused to comply.

They sued the city last month, saying the regulation infringes on their First Amendment rights and has lessened their wish to provide nutritional facts to customers.

The suit asks the regulation be declared unconstitutional and the association be awarded unspecified damages.

The city's Health Department plans to enforce the rule starting in October.

Similar menu labeling bills have been introduced in 14 U.S. state legislatures, CSPI said. Two cities and three counties are also considering such measures.