The Food and Drug Administration is making it easier to count calories when eating out.
"Sometimes you want to know and sometimes you don’t," said consumer Paula Friedman.
Some menus like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks already count calories for customers.
"It seems to have a positive impact,” said Gabriel Santana, a shift manager at Starbucks. “I believe our society is a little more health conscious about what they’re eating, especially at fast food chains and restaurants."
"We think that as a consumer you need to have all the information available to you when you’re making a meal choice," said Gus Mir, Chick-fil-A Owner & Operator.
Soon, businesses with 20 or more locations won’t have a choice. New FDA regulations will require calorie information be clearly and conspicuously displayed next to the item’s name or price.
"I think it’s a good idea,” said consumer, Derek Day. “Modern society could probably use something like that, I mean we’re a little large now."
"I think it’s a good idea to know what you’re eating or drinking," said Friedman.
Some say on those splurge days, they’d rather not know.
"If I’m eating something like cake or brownies or doughnuts or something, I don’t want to know anything about it,” said Day. “I just want to eat it."
The FDA is also requiring additional nutritional information like fat and carbs be readily available. The FDA hopes having that information readily available will help people make better food choices and combat obesity.
Businesses have until late 2015 to comply.