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  3. The U.S. Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to include a federal menu-labeling law as part of comprehensive health-care refor

The U.S. Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to include a federal menu-labeling law as part of comprehensive health-care refor

admin2021-02-21  54
问题    The U.S. Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to include a federal menu-labeling law as part of comprehensive health-care reform. The law, which requires chain restaurants to give consumers the information of calories on their menus, has initiated an intensive debate in the country. The implementation of the law means that when you look at a menu from a chain restaurant, those calorie counts will be staring you down. "Order me if you dare," the big Quesadilla Burger from Applebee’s (1,440 calories) may plead.
   Nevertheless, the restaurant industry, the biggest opponent of the law, had been pushing a federal bill that would require chains nationwide to post calorie information somewhere near the point of purchase but not on the menu itself. The industry claimed menu postings would be a costly burden and would clutter valuable real estate on the menus. Not surprisingly, chains won’t voice the most obvious argument against high-profile calorie counts, because they’re concerned that consumers will be turned off by what they see.
   As the menu-labeling momentum keeps surging, will such policy really improve eating habits? Well, it can do no worse than what’s out there. Researchers observed 4,311 consumers of McDonald’s, Burger King and Starbucks to see if they accessed in-store nutrition data. The info was not on the menu board but in a pamphlet, on a wall poster or an on-site computer. Only 0.1% of the consumers looked at the numbers. If restaurants are sincere about health, they need to put calorie counts on the menu, straight in the customers’ sight lines.
   So far, compulsory on-the-menu calorie counts have been implemented in only three localities: Washington’s King County, New York City and Westchester County. And since none of these provisions have been in place for more than a year, nutritionists have yet to gather empirical proof that they work.
   Although there is no direct evidence of its effectiveness, prominently displayed calorie counts has been found to steer purchases. Last year, researchers in New York City examined consumer eating habits at Subway, which voluntarily posted calorie info in its stores. This study reported that Subway customers who pondered the calorie information purchased 52 fewer calories than those who didn’t.
   Further, the forced disclosure of calories could lead more restaurants to change their offerings. A report by New York City health officials noted that since menu-labeling went into effect last summer, some chains have lowered the calorie counts on certain items. For example, in last March, a Chicken Club sandwich at Wendy’s was listed as being 650 calories. In June this year, the item was 540 calories—a 17% drop.
   Meanwhile, Yum! Brands, parent company of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, has promised to post calorie information on its menus by next January. If the creator of KFC’s Famous Bowls—fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and shredded cheese packed together for your gut-busting pleasure—volunteers to share these numbers, what excuse can other chains claim for not following suit, particularly if Washington lags in forcing them to do so? The writing is on the wall. And perhaps, as a result, fewer calories will be in your stomach.
   [A] has seen the effect of displaying calorie information in its stores.
   [B] has begun to reduce calories contained in some of its offerings.
   [C] is one of the biggest opponents of the menu-labeling law.
   [D] is one of the first localities where the menu-labeling law has been carried out.
   [E] does not display nutrition data on its menu board.
   [F] has volunteered to disclose calorie information on its menus.
   [G] offers a big burger which contains a large amount of calories.
King County
选项
答案D
解析 King County出现在第四段。该段首句说，到目前为止，菜单热量数标识只在全国三个地方强制实行——华盛顿州的国王县、纽约市和韦斯切斯特县。D中的one of the first localities对应原文in only three localities，而the menu-labeling law则与文中的compulsory on-the-menu calorie counts对应，故确定D为本题答案。
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