WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTVR)--Major pizza chains that are normally competitors are joining forces to take on the federal government.
They are challenging a portion of the healthcare reform law that requires pizza chains disclose just how many calories are in each slice.
The legislation would force restaurant chains with 20 or more locations to clearly post the calorie count for each item on menus or menu boards.
But restaurant owners say the task is daunting, citing one reason being that there are so many different ways to serve up a slice. The industry consensus is the claim that approximating a calorie count would be misleading and useless.
“We’ve calculated that you can do 34-million different types of pizza,” said Lynn Liddle with Domino’s.
Liddle is working with many other pizza chains to stop the new law, not because they are hiding the calorie intake, but because of all the ways to order pizza.
“Most of our customers in pizza stores order online or even over the phone. They don’t look at a menu-board and make their decision that way. So we’re not only doing it in a way that’s expensive for a small-business person, we’re doing it in a way that would be too confusing,” said Liddle.
A spokesman with the FDA, who would enforce the bill, said they are working to make adjustments to the proposed legislation.
