The Trailblazing Tactic Panera Employed That Nearly Every Chain Copied - Tasting Table

"In 2010, customers at Panera Bread became the first at any major chain to see calorie counts listed directly on the menu. This was consistent across all locations, allowing diners to tally up their counts no matter where they were. The idea was soon adopted by countless other chains across the country, offering a quick reference to how many calories customers were about to consume."

"Although some cities required restaurants to include this information on menus, it was not a law that needed to be followed everywhere. That didn't come until 2017. That law was only applicable to chains that had 20 or more locations with essentially the same menu at each one. McDonald's made the move in 2012. Starbucks upgraded its menus in 2013. Subway got the job done in 2016 but had been offering up calorie information in-store on things like cups and napkins"

"A study from Obesity Science and Practice showed pizza places were the most likely to be non-compliant with the laws once they came into effect, including major ones like Domino's. Pizza places were in favor of a modification of the law that would have only required them to include nutritional information online, not in physical menu boards in stores. In the end, everyone complied."

Calorie counts began appearing on menus in 2010 when Panera Bread listed calories consistently across all locations so diners could tally their intake. Other national chains soon adopted menu calorie displays, and some cities had already required such information. A federal rule implemented in 2017 required chains with 20 or more locations and essentially the same menus to provide calorie information. Major chains implemented the labels at different times: McDonald's in 2012, Starbucks in 2013 and Subway in 2016, though Subway had provided in-store calorie cues since 1997. A study found pizza restaurants were most likely to be non-compliant, but ultimately all chains complied. Calorie listings aimed to increase transparency and encourage lower-calorie options, though some customers and nutritionists later called for an end.

Read at Tasting Table