US fastfood chains Subway and Ranch 1 have a policy of displaying the nutritional content of their products on napkins – and comparing them with perennial favourites such as McDonald’s Big Mac and Burger King’s Whopper.

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Subway and Ranch 1 try to position themselves as a healthier quick service alternative to conventional fastfood, and see the open information route as the best way to get the message out.


Subway pointed out to just-food.com that the group has been putting nutritional information on napkins and drink cups since 1997, but it is unusual in this. Maybe not for long, however – pressure is currently being stepped up on foodservice providers to be more open about the nutritional content of their products. While CPG manufacturers have to adhere to rigorous labelling guidelines, consumers in many restaurants are presented with next to no information.


Last week, an overweight New Yorker sued four fastfood giants for causing him to become obese, diabetic and suffer heart disease (read more about this story by clicking here) and this is likely to force the chains’ hand.


McDonald’s has a toll-free number customers can use to find out about nutritional content, while posters are also displayed in stores outlining the ingredients of menu items, as well as serving size, calories, cholesterol, sodium and fat.

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Some restaurant owners are reluctant to be more upfront about nutritional content, feeling that some consumers prefer to enjoy their meal without confronting its full calorific content.