FAST-FOOD FACTS

Maybe the fast in fast food is more about how nimble the company is than how quickly customers receive their meals. Just as interest peaked early this year after a court case and legislation in a couple of states, including Maine, suggested fast-food restaurants were being less than forthright about the amount of fat in their food, the companies responded inventively. The several months between complaint and response is an eye blink for corporations and a positive sign that customers will be better served.

McDonald’s has had nutrition information available for decades, though it consists of pamphlets that many people may not know exist. But its web page introduced earlier this year, called Bag a McMeal, will likely attract more consumers. It lets people click and drag a wide range of meal choices into a bag, which then tallies the calorie count. The Wall Street Journal, which recently examined this site and the nutritional information at several other fast-food restaurants, chose a Big Mac, vanilla shake and large fries, which totaled 1,690 calories, close to an entire day’s worth.

The Journal looked at other chains, including Subway, which had nutrition information posted on the counter, Panera Bread, which had trained its staff to answer a variety of calorie and fat questions and a chain called Seasons 52, which has given its waiters handheld nutrition computers to calculate any meal ordered. Restaurants such as Wendy’s and Applebee’s have responded similarly.

Tommy Thompson, the secretary of Health and Human Services, deserves credit for some of the change. For months, he has been pushing the idea of the chains providing more easily accessible information. That’s what the Maine legislation would do. Held over from last session, LD 391 requires restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to provide nutrition information on menu boards, menus and packaging. When Bangor Rep. Sean Faircloth introduced it, the bill was derided as an impractical burden on business. Now some businesses are doing it on their own. When the bill is reconsidered this winter, lawmakers ought to look at how the chains in Maine have responded since last spring.

The worsening problem of obesity makes these and dozens of other changes ultimately unavoidable.

But the willingness of the chains to respond to this serious health threat was an encouraging sign. Let’s hope consumers take their responsibility to use the information as seriously.