Many people argue that restaurants should be required to disclose the nutritional information of dishes they serve. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages.
In recent years, there is a growing emphasis on the consumption of healthy food. Many are of the perception that restaurants should reveal the nutritional breakdown of the items on the menu. The advantages of this subside all the drawbacks as such reforms could ensure good eating as well as cooking practices worldwide.
People who criticize the idea of displaying the nutritional constituents point out the difficulty for its enforcement. If such an initiative is to be sustained, restaurants would need to spend money frequently on laboratory tests and other resources. This administrative burden would be charged from the customers as additional costs or included in the food bills. This could eventually lead to less customer visits and affect the business of the restaurants, which therefore would affect the cooperation from them.
Nonetheless, due to the countless selection of food items in restaurant menus along with the demand to stay healthy, the display of nutritional labels on food is advantageous in every aspect. Local and authentic cuisines of many nations are popular among people who know less about their ingredients and preparation. Therefore, they are curious about the nutritional value of the food to judge if they serve them good. Moreover, restaurants sometimes add food colors, preservatives and taste enhancers which often has unhealthy consequences to the health of a person. Labelling of nutritional information not only forces restaurants to adhere to good cooking procedures but also assures the quality of the same for their consumers.
In conclusion, some health-conscious individuals recommend the disclosing of nutritional constituents of food items in restaurants. The merits of this proposal, which is the transparency in eating and cooking practices, far outweigh some marginal downsides in its enactment.