MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Do you want fries with that? If you've been to a McDonald's drive-thru lately, your answer might be a shocked no. The fast food giant now has calorie counts listed on its drive-thru menus.
We already know how much damage a number one will have on our wallet, now we know how much damage it will have on our waistline. McDonald's customer, Donald Robinson says, "I got the tea today. In the past a double cheeseburger, a Big Mac."
Robinson loves the McDonald's drive-thru, but received a harsh reality check when he was greeted with the calorie count. "Now I'll get the fish fillet," he says, "Something with less calories."
The McDonalds on Union Avenue in midtown Memphis was recently remodeled, with it came the new drive-thru menu. Olivia Johnson changed her order from her usual Big Mac to a regular small burger, she says, "I think it's great they have it posted."
The menu's so new Rachael Hughes hadn't even noticed the change, but volunteered to put her order on the spot. She typically gets a grilled chicken sandwich, with a large order of fries. The sandwich was 380 calories, "Well I guess that's not horrible." She says, "I feel way better about this now." That was until she saw the combo count, "Oh wow, it's 1100 with fries? oooh. No fries."
Starting in 2013 a new federal law will require all chains with 20 or more locations to print calorie counts on menus; Mcdonald's is being proactive.
Still for loyal customers, like Rusty Castleberry, the numbers don't make a difference, "I kind of noticed it but I didn't pay much attention," he says, "I love McDonald's no matter what."
Recently in New York a study found one in six customers paid attention to the menu and changed their order because of it.
McDonald's could not be reached for comment.
