Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Health & Society
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Health & Society

Instead of Calorie Count, Major Food Retailers Should Consider ‘Traffic Light System’

Monday, May 7, 2018, By Daryl Lovell
Share
Falk CollegeFalk College of Sport and Human DynamicsFood labelshealth and wellness

As of today, federal rules require restaurants and grocery and convenience stores with 20 or more locations to post calorie counts for standard menu items.

Jane Uzcategui is an associate teaching professor of nutrition at Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She is also a registered dietician who specializes in lifecycle nutrition and medical nutrition therapy. Prof. Uzcategui says research shows contextual information may be more helpful in getting consumers to recognize the nutritional value of their food choices.

Uzcategui says:

“Research has shown that consumers do not know how many calories they need; without context, it is hard to use the information. Contextual information, such as a grading system like the traffic light system may be more helpful (read more at this link). Contextual information is useful because it provides some frame of reference. With the traffic light system, green light is used for foods that can be consumed regularly, a yellow light indicates use foods with caution and a red light means eat foods sparingly.

“All in all it is a tall order for a retailer to add calorie content to their menu boards but it can be useful to some consumers. That is, if someone is actively pursuing dietary change and understands how many calories they need in a day it is useful in guiding decisions. For example, if someone knows they should have 1800 calories in a day and have been coached to consume less than 500 kcal per meal, they know what to do.

“The calorie content of menus also have many limitations. For example, if a consumer is selecting an item as it is fully prepared then it should be accurate, however there are often additions, such as adding a salad dressing, a spread like butter or cream cheese or other condiments that may not be included in the calorie count. The additions tend to be very high in calories and it may be misleading. If you order a salad with no dressing, as posted on the menu board, and then add ranch dressing – that can add 250 or more calories to the meal. If you order a 16 oz. skim latte, it has 120 kcal less than one made with whole milk. There are so many examples.”

 

 

 

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing

T 315.443.1184   M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell

820 Comstock Avenue, Suite 308, Syracuse, NY 13244
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu

Syracuse University

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

Daryl Lovell

  • Jane Burrell Uzcategui

  • Recent
  • SummerStart to Relaunch with Expanded Programming and Partnerships
    Wednesday, March 3, 2021, By Shannon Andre
  • LaunchPad Students Launch ‘The Commute to Class’ Podcast Series
    Wednesday, March 3, 2021, By Cristina Hatem
  • Updates Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Availability for Eligible Faculty and Staff
    Wednesday, March 3, 2021, By News Staff
  • Remote Tutoring Program Offers a Valuable Virtual Learning Experience for K-12, Early College Students in CNY
    Wednesday, March 3, 2021, By Dan Bernardi
  • Four School of Architecture Alumni Elevated to AIA College of Fellows
    Wednesday, March 3, 2021, By Julie Sharkey

More In Health & Society

Five Maxwell Scholars Contribute to Aging Studies Handbook

Four professors and a doctoral student from the Maxwell School’s Department of Sociology and Department of Public Administration and International Affairs have contributed to the completely revised ninth edition of the “Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences” (Elsevier Academic…

CAS in Intercollegiate Athletic Advising and Support Addresses Unique Needs of College Student-Athletes

The Department of Higher Education in the School of Education is expanding their curriculum offerings to prepare current and future higher education professionals (e.g., advisors, administrators and coaches) to learn how to support and advocate for the success of intercollegiate…

Boost Your Immune System With These Expert Tips (and Recipes!)

A healthy immune system is important throughout the year, but even more so during cold and flu season and while we remain at-risk of contracting COVID-19. In honor of National Nutrition Month, celebrated in March, we tapped into campus experts…

Application Deadline Approaching: Five Reasons to Be a Barnes Center at The Arch Peer Educator

The deadline to apply to be a Barnes Center at The Arch Peer Educator for the 2021-22 academic year is Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, and all students are encouraged to submit an application. Students who are interested in applying for…

CRS Professor’s New Book Focuses on the Rhetoric of Antisemitism

Amos Kiewe, a professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies (CRS), has authored the new book, “The Rhetoric of Antisemitism: From the Origins of Christianity and Islam to the Present” (Lexington Books). It…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2021 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.