Calorie Counts in Restaurant Foods Inaccurate
There currently is a growing trend for calorie disclosure of menu items. However, you can’t trust that these are accurate. A report on the lack of accuracy in restaurant calorie counts is in this month’s issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association and comes from research done at Tufts University .
Here are some of the findings:
An order of Szechuan-style asparagus from P.F. Chang’s, which was listed at 260 calories, actually contained 558. And the Taco Bell Chicken Taco Salad, listed as 326 calories, was actually 607 calories!
In some cases, serving size is the culprit. A side order of grits from Denny’s is listed at 86 calories. However, the 262-gram serving delivered to patrons is twice as large as the 113-gram serving on the menu. Total calories: 258.
Another problem is that low-calorie entrees often come with high-calorie side dishes that aren’t included in the counts for the dish. For example, the petite sirloin steak served at Ruby Tuesday’s is slightly under the posted calorie count of 271. However, it’s accompanied by broccoli and a baked potato, which add another 667 calories.
Consumers can expect restaurateurs to err on the side of lower calories and neglect to mention anything that could discourage buying. Just like it’s necessary to scrutinize labels in the grocery store to avoid harmful substances, a little detective work whenever you eat out is a good preventive health measure.
