Starbucks To Begin Posting Calorie Information Ahead Of FDA Mandate

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) announced Tuesday that it will start posting calorie counts for the food and beverages on its menu boards across all of its company-operated U.S. stores.

Beginning June 25, customers at more than 11,000 of the Seattle-based chain's U.S. locations will be able to see that there are 300 calories in a small caramel Frappuccino vs. 230 calories in a small Iced Cafe Mocha, for example. The company noted that it provides nutrition information on its website, through its iPhone app and in printed brochures in cafes.

Starbucks is taking this step well ahead of a federal regulation by the Food and Drug Administration that will require chain restaurants to do so. While a number of national chains such as McDonald's and Applebee's already provide calorie information on their menus, some are still waiting for the FDA to issue its final guidelines. The FDA plans to mandate calorie posting nationally by the end of 2014.

The company also announced a strategic expansion of its food selections in order to attract lunchtime customers.