Calorie counts postponed

Federal rules that will require chain restaurants with at least 20 locations to include calorie counts on menus won't go into effect until December 2016, a year later than initially planned.

The rules were included as a provision in the Affordable Care Act, and last November the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued rules that chain restaurants—vending machines, grocery stores, coffee shops and other places that sell food and drinks directly to consumers—post detailed information on calorie content. However, the food industry has put pressure on the FDA to postpone implementation to offer time to develop software for accurate nutrition labeling, to install menu boards and to train staff on the new requirements, according to the Washington Post.

Some public health experts say the delay will allow the food industry to continue lobbying to weaken the rules.