Maybe the fast food labeling initiative made a lot more sense than some previously suggested.
The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released preliminary data showing evidence that people bought food with fewer calories at nine of the 13 fast-food and coffee chains included in a study on the effects of menu-labeling laws that went into effect in 2008.
Researchers surveyed more than 10,000 customers at 275 locations in early 2007 and another 12,000 this year.
They found statistically significant decreases at four chains -- McDonald's, Au Bon Pain, KFC and Starbucks -- and said diners who saw and acted on calorie information bought food containing 106 fewer calories on average than those who did not notice the postings.
