Last updated on May 17th, 2017 at 10:14 am
Wegmans’ customers who pick up a made-to-order or prepared item, such as a muffin or sandwich at the Sub Shop, will begin to notice updated calorie information on labels and menu boards around the store.
In 2010, the FDA advised chain restaurants and similar food establishments that, by May 5, 2017, they would be required to post calorie information where customers could easily see it. The deadline recently was pushed to 2018, but Wegmans has made some of the information already available.
“Our company has always believed that customers have a right to product information, and this FDA regulation is keeping with steps we’ve already taken at our own initiative,” said registered dietitian Jane Andrews, nutrition and product labeling manager at Wegmans. “We want to give customers the tools they can use to make informed decisions about what they’ll eat and what’s the right portion size for them personally.”
As Wegmans works toward full compliance with the new FDA regulation, customers may now notice calorie counts:
• On menu boards in the Pizza Shop, Sub Shop or The Buzz coffee;
• On signs near self-serve hot and cold food bars;
• On signs in the bakery near bulk items like muffins, bagels or donuts; and
• On package labels for grab-and-go fresh items such as sushi, salads, soups and sandwiches.
“We’re finding that calorie information can be a conversation starter helping people to become more aware,” said Andrews. “A customer may notice, for example, that the meatball sub has more calories than a turkey sub, and use that knowledge to inform their choice of side. Or a customer may want something from the bakery to go along with the coffee she’s ordering, and use the calorie information to help her decide whether to have a mini-scone, a muffin or bagel.
“Just knowing the calorie count for something you’re thinking about eating or drinking can help you decide how much you want to eat at this meal or at this time—and that’s a good step in a nation where two out of three adults are above their healthiest weights.”
Wegmans operates 92 supermarkets in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts.
