5 Things, September 17: McDonald's to Start Posting Calorie Counts on Menus

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.

1. McDonald's to Start Posting Calorie Counts on Menus

So how many calories is in a Big Mac? What about a large order of fries?

Starting Monday, September 17 you won't have to look far for the answer - it will be posted right on the McDonald's menu.

The Associated Press reports:

"The world’s biggest hamburger chain said...that it will post calorie information on restaurant and drive-thru menus nationwide starting Monday. The move comes ahead of a regulation that could require major chains to post the information as early as next year."

Some chains like Panera Bread already post calorie counts on its menus. One of the regulations in the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) is for restaurants with more than 20 locations to include calorie information on its menus. But the timetable for implementing this is still "being worked out," the AP reports.

Cities like New York and Philadelphia already require the posting of calorie information and McDonald's posts calorie counts in some of its international locations.

Will seeing how many calories you are consuming change what you order at McDonald's?

Locally, McDonald's has a Washington St. location in Stoughton and has a location on North Pearl St. in Brockton, just over the Stoughton line and one in Cobb's Corner in Canton, just over the Stoughton line.

To read more about McDonald's latest menu addition, click here.

2. Happy Rosh Hashanah

Sundown on Sunday marked the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (5773). The holiday goes from sundown on September 16 to sundown on September 18.  

Public schools in Stoughton are closed on both Monday and Tuesday for the holiday, the first of the High Holy Days in the Jewish religion.

To all readers observing, L'Shanah Tovah!

To learn more about Rosh Hashanah, click here.

3. Constitution Day

On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the U.S. Constitution.

Click here to read the Constitution.

4. Signup for our Newsletter

Get all the latest Stoughton Patch headlines delivered right to your inbox. Click here to signup for our FREE email newsletter.

5. Reminder: Thursday is Food Pantry Day in Stoughton

Stoughton resident Peg Carbone continues her effort to curb hunger in Stoughton, personally picking up donations for the food pantries every Thursday.

Here's a note from Peg: "I pick up non perishable food and also household items every Thursday, anywhere in Stoughton and deliver them to the food pantry. Please tell your friends and neighbors. One item, one bag or several, and I will pick them up every Thursday."

Haven't called to arrange a pickup? It's not too late. Call Peg at 508-889-1385 or send an email to peg.carbone@comcast.net.