PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Multnomah County commissioners are weighing whether to require dozens of Portland-area chain restaurants to include calorie counts on their menus.

The rule would affect restaurants with at least 15 outlets nationwide, ranging from homegrown spots such as McMenamins to fast-food giants such as McDonald's. Moreover, the restaurants would have to provide additional nutritional information on request, such as fat and sodium amounts.

"It's not telling people what they should eat, it's not preventing them from eating things that are unhealthy," said Commissioner Jeff Cogen, who is sponsoring the proposal that has divided the five-member board. "It's giving people the information so they can make decisions for themselves."

Americans eat out more frequently than ever, eating meals that are typically less nutritious than those cooked at home. Menu labeling, supporters contend, would give diners the information they need to make healthier selections.

If approved, Multnomah County would join a handful of other places in adopting the requirement. New York has a similar rule that went into effect earlier this month. Seattle's will begin in 2009. San Francisco's is being held up by a legal challenge from the local restaurant association.

The Oregon Restaurant Association has lobbied against the rule, citing cost, liability and government overreaching.

The group notes that past efforts to flag more healthful food in restaurants have led to decreased sales of those items and that obesity rates have swelled since the federal government began requiring detailed nutritional information on all packaged food nearly 15 years ago.

"Everything we've seen in the industry, anecdotal as it may be, has shown it will have the opposite impact," association lobbyist Bill Perry told The Oregonian newspaper.

The association's argument might be a winning one. After meeting with the restaurant association, Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey reversed herself and said she'll probably vote against it. Commissioner Lisa Naito said she'll also oppose it.

That leaves Commissioner Lonnie Roberts as the swing vote.

"I have to come to grips with: Is this a public service or is this an infringement on private business?" Roberts said.
     
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)