What's in the popcorn? Cinemas would rather not have to say

[The Straight Story]

What's in the popcorn? Cinemas would rather not have to say

Theater owners to the FDA: Don't mess with our popcorn.

The nation's cinema operators are fuming about proposed federal rules that could require them to disclose the calories in their concession food — including popcorn, a highly profitable item for theater chains.

...

Theater operators have a vested interest in fighting the proposed rules, as they generate up to one-third of their revenue from selling popcorn, sodas and other snacks. Popcorn is especially profitable. As David Ownby, the chief financial officer of Regal Entertainment Group, the nation's largest theater circuit, recently said at an investor presentation, "We sell a bucket of popcorn for about $6. Our cost in that $6 bucket of popcorn is about 15 cents or 20 cents. So if that cost doubles, it doesn't really hurt me that much."

..

A 2009 survey based on laboratory tests commissioned by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington found that a large popcorn serving contained as much as 1,460 calories — which is the equivalent of eating nearly three McDonald's Big Macs.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-popcorn-20110323,0,3759568.story

[aquart]

1. Toxic but tasty.

[SpiralHawk]

2. This is why so many patrons smuggle in their own popcorn & drinks

Rather than nosh on the stunning;y overpriced chemical crap at the snack bar, they -- and I know this is shocking -- sneak in their own stash, using the nefarious, devious black-op strategeries developed decades ago in Republicon Family Values seminars....

SHOCKING...

[LuvNewcastle]

4. I like to eat candy at the movies,

so I usually buy some Lemonheads and Red Hots before I go to the theater. The packs are small and easily fit into my pants pockets. The only thing I buy at the the theater is a bottle of water.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Ahhh so, Homeland Security will be very interested to learn abou this...

...you are sooo busted...

[SoCalDem]

3. Geez.. Is there ANYBODY alive who thinks that theatre popcorn is low-calorie?

It's a TREAT...a once in a while TREAT.. not part of anyone's "sensible diet"

I am all in favor of restaurants posting calorie content, but if you are going to a Snack place, candy store, ice cream shop, you EXPECT calories..

[catgirl]

6. The mark up on the popcorn should also be in the headline

They should also list the ingredients on the packaging. The "butter flavored" popcorn is
comprised of nasty ingredients.

[surrealAmerican]

7. They are stupid to make a fuss about this.

If they just listed the information, the customers would ignore it. By publicly "fuming" about it they only serve to publicize just how bad their food is.

[Zywiec]

8. Can't people sit for 2 hours without eating something? n/t

[queenjane]

9. I thought I was the only one who didn't eat at the movies

Seriously, can't people go for 2 - 3 hours without eating?? I do bring sugarfree candy for myself, but otherwise, no food or drink. If I drink, then I have to go to the bathroom, and I don't want to miss part of the movie. Everyone around me is munching and crunching, non-stop. During "The King's Speech", I had the "pleasure" of sitting across the aisle from a guy with the biggest tub of popcorn the theatre sold. He ate continuously during the movie, tub propped up on his huge stomach. The people behind me sounded like a group of horses munching oats. I don't get it. Aside from the calories, who wants to spend that much money on junk?