New York City Postpones Plan Mandating Fast Food Menu Calorie List

New York, NY (AHN) - Health officials in New York City postponed the deadline for national chain restaurants to post calorie counts on city menus. Chain restaurants were supposed to start posting calorie contents on their menus on Monday.

However, since the New York State Restaurant Association trade group has challenged it in court, Manhattan federal Judge Richard Holwell on Thursday barred the Health Department from enforcing the law until April 14.

The judge will consider a lawsuit filed by the state restaurant association has sued to block the plan. The judge's ruling is expected by April 15th.

While the supporters of the plan say the measure will combat obesity by enlightening the diners about the caloric consequences of their orders, the state restaurant association says the rule violates the First Amendment. The group believes it forces businesses to put message on their menus.

Under the law, eateries that failed to post the calorie counts could be hit with fines from $200 to $2,000. The fines wouldn't be issued until the end of a grace period May 27. Coffe giant Starbucks however said it will post the calories on the menu Monday despite the extension.