Yum Brands to display Calorie Content
If you’ve ever felt guilty about ordering up the latest triple layer, double beef, nacho cheese and four-cheese blend concoction from your local Taco Bell, you’re not alone. But if you should dine at one of a certain fast food empire’s franchise locations, at least they can’t say they didn’t warn you. Yum Brands, the umbrella corporation who owns the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises, has announced that all of their restaurant locations will have calorie content displayed next to names of all menu items and their prices by January 1, 2011. Therefore, by knowing exactly what you’re getting before placing an order, it’s possible that consumers no longer could file high-profile lawsuits under the premise of, “the Chihuahua made me do it!”
New Laws, New Advertising
The fast food empire, which also owns the Long John Silver’s and A&W Restaurant chains, announced the corporate-wide change as a way to do California Governor Schwarzenegger one better in his efforts. The day before Yum’s announcement, Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that would require all restaurants with 20 or more locations in the state to disclose calorie content on all items by January 1, 2011. Yum has also vowed to refrain from future television advertisements targeting children under 12. Now, for anyone who’s been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I’m not that big of a fan of any kind of restrictive action. I mean, if kids don’t see an ad during Saturday morning cartoons conning them to eat at KFC, they’ll still get the message when they watch TV with their folks. Therefore, I don’t agree with that portion of this new measure. On the other hand, in the age of blogs, YouTube, and people making movies about gorging themselves on a McDonald’s-only diet, we all crave information. We want to know what something is, where we can get the best price on it, and, in this case, exactly what we’re getting ourselves into by purchasing it.
Up Front For All To See
Many years ago, packaged food manufacturers began placing government-mandated nutrition facts and ingredient lists on all of their products. This way, the guesswork was taken out of whether or not an allergy-prone person should consume something. The food industry has also taken a page from the no fax payday loans industry who, since its infancy, has lent money to people who have fallen on temporary financial times and need the payday loans. But even before a customer begins filling out an application, all terms, conditions, fees and repayment schedules are disclosed up front. Then, a customer must verify, in writing, that they understand what they’re getting themselves into, before the funds change hands. Certainly, our society would be a better place to live if all companies were to take a cue from Yum Brands and no fax payday loans companies.
I feel it is a great idea for the governor of California to take initiative, this country is full of people blaming everything on everyone but themselves. In the meanwhile, it is them who are over 300 #’s still eating at fast food restaurants making the excuse that they didn’t know it was unhealthy. I don’t feel companies posting how bad their product is for you and how it is unhealthy is exactly fair, even if it is a a group of nasty restaurants like these. I feel Payday Loan Companies want their customers to know all the guidelines and these restaurants are just being forced.
The governator can be off or on, but I think he got a hit on this one. Fast food restaurants should be able to serve as fatty or vile food as they want as long as they let the customers know exactly what they are getting into. This is already being practiced by the payday loan industry, who lets their customers know everything ahead of time. If only all businesses let you know all the details of what you’re getting yourself into, like the stupid cell phone commercials that want you to text them to get your fortune or whatnot. If only people knew that they were signing up for a $10/month service. Where are the people that should be going after these businesses.
This law is a fine idea. Everyone is so quick to blame others for their troubles, but with full disclosure of the facts their will be no one to blame but themselves. They will probably get more business for their honesty. Companies underestimate the power of truth. This is why it is a shame that the payday loan industry is often considered predatory. In what way is disclosing all of the terms and conditions predatory. In my opinion the payday loan companies are an example of how business should be conducted. Not everyone is upfront with things such as their rates, penalties, and even calorie counts.
I think it is good for the consumer to know what he’s buying before he buy’s it. I Fairly doubt that knowing how bad it is for you is going to stop you from eating it, but the more you know the better, especially with the payday loans. It’s good that payday loans do bring the information upfront without smoke and mirrors so we all know exactly what’s happening.
Yum Food’s decision to post the calorie content of its food products is a good idea. It probably won’t change the minds of many people, but at least it will make them more aware of what they are actually consuming. I know that if I saw that a hamburger had 2200 calories before I ordered, I would think twice about it.
In all industries, including the payday loan industry, it is beneficial if the consumer knows what she is getting up front.
Full transparency and disclosure to consumers is not only fair, it should be expected. The fact that many restaurants don’t along with many other industries, is almost proof positive that they don’t respect their customers. The payday loan industry has almost always fully disclosed what it was they offered, which every industry should do.
People should be informed about the ins and outs of any provisions, products or services. Being informed and educated about anything in general allows consumers to make a better judgment/decision. People tend to overuse or misuse certain things because of the lack of information and guidance. It’s a right for every citizen to make their own decision supported by the details and facts that are accessibly available to each and every one of us.