New FDA Rules Put Calorie Counts On Menus

WASHINGTON (AP) - Counting your calories will become easier under new government rules requiring chain restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores - and even movie theaters, amusement parks and vending machines - to post the calorie content of food "clearly and conspicuously" on their menus.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to announce the long-delayed rules on Tuesday. The regulations will apply to businesses with 20 or more locations and they will be given until November 2015 to comply.

The idea is that people may pass on that bacon double cheeseburger at a chain restaurant, hot dog at a gas station or large popcorn at the movie theater if they know that it has hundreds of calories. Beverages are included, and alcohol will be labeled if drinks are listed on the menu.