Starbucks unveils calorie counts on menus

Nutritionist on best fast food options Starbucks' calorie labelling is supposed to encourage healthy choices, but research suggests it might not make a difference.

The new calorie labels on Starbucks menus might have some people thinking twice about adding whipped cream to their pumpkin spice lattes. But experts say consumers should be taking more into account than just calories when choosing their food.

Customers were already able to look up the calorie content online, which also lists fat, sugar, sodium and caffeine content.

The company said it decided to post calorie counts on menus as well to make sure customers can make “informed decisions.”

It’s now mandatory for chain restaurants in the U.S. with 20 or more locations to have calorie and nutrition labeling for standard menu items. Next year, Ontario will also require restaurants with more than 20 locations to list the calorie content on their menus or menu display boards.

But a recent study from NYU’s Langone Medical Center in 2015 found that there were “no statistically significant changes” over time in the levels of calories purchased or in how often people visited fast-food restaurants several years after the calorie menus were posted.

Holistic nutritionist and founder of HealthyEatingAndLiving.Ca Mandy King says eating well is about more than just the number of calories in a meal.

“It’s not just calories and calories out,” she said. “The number one thing I would look for is how much sugar is in something.”

Starbucks fans might be surprised to find out that the ever-popular pumpkin spice latte in a grande size with 2% milk and whipped cream is 380 calories and has 50 grams of sugar, which is about double your recommended daily intake of sugar.

“When we’re eating a lot of sugar, what happens is it spikes our blood sugar, which spikes our insulin. And insulin is a hormone that you do not want to have spiked often,” she said.

King says she does generally support the calorie labels, she hopes people will take more than just that number into account when choosing their food and drinks.

“I think everyone has to keep in mind that there’s so much more than just calories,” she said.

Calorie labels on pastry case items are expected to be rolled out at Starbucks locations on Nov. 2.