Want to know how many calories are in the food at chain restaurants?

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Story Published: Feb 19, 2009 at 9:04 AM PST

By Laura Rillos KVAL News

EUGENE, Ore.--A newly proposed law would require all chain restaurants in Oregon to post calorie information on menus.

State Representative Tina Kotek, a Democrat from northeast Portland, introduced the bill on Tuesday. It's similar to one that will go into effect in Multnomah County on March 15.

The bill defines a chain restaurant as having 10 or more locations throughout the United States.

"It's not just a Portland thing," said Kotek. "If you're a chain restaurant in another part of the state, the consumer in rural Oregon, in southern Oregon, on the coast, they should all have that information."

"The U.S. does have an obesity problem so if people are more informed they can make better decisions about food and intake," said Simone Sheppherd. The Eugene resident said she liked the bill.

"There is no evidence that providing the information changes the choices customers make," said Joel Pomerantz with the Oregon Restaurant Association.

He added they don't have a problem with providing the information.

There is a cost associated with the changes.

According to Jerry Scott with Elmer's Restaurant, it costs the company $10,000 to reprint a menu to add nutritional information. The cost includes gathering the information and re-designing the menu.

Scott and Pomerantz expressed support for providing customers with nutritional information pamphlets.

Kotek said customers need to see the information when they're ordering.

The bill will be assigned to a committee for research and public hearings will be held before the House votes on the bill. If the bill is signed into law, it will go into effect January 2010.

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