Court upholds NYC's rule requiring calories on menus

By COLLEEN LONG Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge has turned aside a challenge from New York restaurants and upheld the city's rules requiring calories to be posted on some menus.

Judge Richard Holwell says in a ruling Wednesday that the law is a reasonable approach to the city's goal of reducing obesity.

The new law takes effect on April 21 and applies to restaurants with more than 15 outlets across the country.

That includes fast-food places like McDonald's and such sit-down chains as Olive Garden and T.G.I. Friday's. Some restaurants including Starbucks and Chipotle have already started to post calories on menus.

The New York State Restaurant Association had challenged the law.