Starbucks (SBUX 0.64%) will provide calorie information on the menu boards and in the pastry cases of all its company-operated and licensed U.S. stores beginning June 25, the company announced today.
It will be spelled out that here are 300 calories in a small caramel Frappuccino and 230 calories in a small Iced Caffe Mocha, for instance, using the standard recipe. Pastry cases will also show calorie information, in case customers want to save some calories and opt for a Morning Bun (350 calories) instead of a blueberry scone (460 calories).
Starbucks is introducing its store-level calorie counts before such information becomes mandatory as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March 2010. The act gave the Food and Drug Administration the responsibility to promulgate specific guidelines for calorie labeling, but the FDA has not yet set a date when that requirement will take effect.
Starbucks has been making calorie information available to customers via printed brochures, on its website, and with its iPhone app.
-- Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
