Calorie Counts at California Pizza Kitchen Disappearing Until 2011

Many states have passed calorie count laws, stating chain restaurants with 20 or more units must provide customers with the calorie count of all of their menu items. More “sit-down” style restaurants were given the option to disclose the information, but in 2011, all restaurants will have to make the change.

California Pizza Kitchen, a Los Angeles based pizza and pasta chain, has been voluntarily listing their calorie counts since July 1, but recently dropped the extra information after customers complained. The information is available on the website, so technically they are still in compliance–for now.

In an article for the LA Times, Larry Flax, co-chief executive at CPK said, “You have to look at the restaurant business as entertainment. Why make the customer feel guilty?” He then went on to say that “people kept getting mad” because they didn’t understand that a state law mandates that chain restaurants provide this type of information to customers.

In 2011, though, they will have to return to the menu they just scrapped.

I have two issues with his statement. First, is it just me, or did he basically say “ignorance is bliss”? Food guilt doesn’t come from knowing the contents of what you are eating, it comes from knowing what you are consuming is not good for you, whether it be in terms of calories or content, and choosing to eat it anyway. It’s a choice. I use the calorie counts to make sure I make a healthy choice–which is the purpose of the laws in the first place. Don’t rob people of that because others don’t know what to do with the information.

The second issue isn’t with CPK itself, but with its customers. Do people really, honestly, complain about knowing the calorie content of their food? People legitimately get angry that the calories are listed next to their choice–and need to be told it’s the law in order to placate them? No wonder we are an obese nation–”I’m going to stick my head in the sand when it comes to the quality of my food, and then become very angry when someone offers me the information!” I’ve been to CPK and the calorie menu is completely separate, so someone would have to specifically look at it anyway. Don’t want to know? Don’t look.

High calorie dishes have their place. I once consumed a whole pizza because I had an eight-hour gymnastics competition the next day and needed the fuel. Sometimes, I just want something because it sounds good, even if it is fattening, because every once in a while, you need a splurge to keep you sane. People know what is good and bad for them. People know what is a healthy or unhealthy choice–they just don’t always make the right one. It’s just seeing the concrete numbers staring them in the face that makes it harder to fool themselves.

So since a few people have food guilt–which can easily be avoided by ordering something healthy–I do not get to know the contents of the food I am eating. Great.

But, I bet you dollars to donuts, that if those same complainers found a tack in their food they would be suing everyone and their brother. Because a tack is dangerous! But so is blindly consuming fattening dishes, and actually becoming angry, when you are faced with the facts.