Last week, Erie County in New York State implemented a policy requiring 200 locally owned restaurants in the area to list calorie counts, fat content, and other nutritional information on their menus. The move is a collaboration between the western New York chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association and Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo. According to county health officials, obesity is the biggest health problem in the area. 

Though the new national health care law will require all chain restaurants to post "clear and conspicuous" calorie information, the National Restaurant Association told The Buffalo News calls the Erie County program the first in the nation because it presents nutritional information in a large scale way that involves both restaurant owners and health experts. 

But the state as a whole has not recognized this important movie by one of its counties. In its 2005 Strategic Plan for Overweight and Obesity Prevention, New York calls obesity a "major public health threat" and declares its goal to "increase awareness and knowledge about health eating," yet does not specifically target high quantities of fat, salt, and calories in restaurant meals. With 2009 statistics by the state showing that 57 percent of adult New Yorkers are overweight or obese, it's time the state Department of Health took some tangible steps to help its citizens make good food choices. 

Though Erie County's plan has just taken effect and the national movement toward calorie listing won't happen until next year, New York City's law requiring chains to post calorie content of food and beverage items shows that the practice can have a real positive impact. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that people who used the calorie information available at fast food chain restaurants in the city bought 106 fewer calories' worth of food, on average, than those who did not see the information.

Let's tell New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines that we want nutritional information posted in all restaurants throughout all areas of the state.