NEW YORK CITY – Subway has begun updating menu boards at each of its 27,000 U.S. locations with calorie counts—a move that should be completed by April 11, The Wichita Eagle reports. The sandwich chain decided to go ahead with the change even as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration delayed yet again until 2017 the enforcement of a requirement that foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations list nutritional information.

“I think consumers are looking for this, and with all the delays, they're confused as to why it's not out there,” said Lanette Kovachi, head of the chain’s global nutrition efforts. Subway joins Panera and McDonald’s in putting caloric data on its menu boards. Most chain restaurants are content to wait until the agency’s final guidance is issued before putting up calorie counts.

Around 4,000 Subway stores already listed calorie info in places like New York City and California, which mandated restaurants post such data. Since the beginning of this year, Subway has been piloting the new menu boards in an additional 7,000 locations. Because the chain allows for customers to add toppings, the menu boards only provide caloric info on basic sandwiches. Within the next 12 months, Subway plans to offer calorie counts for topping, such as cheese and olives, on its sneeze guards.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act. NACS advocacy efforts on menu-labeling now shift to the Senate to encourage passage of S. 2217, companion legislation to H.R. 2017 that was introduced by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Angus King (I-ME). More information on this issue can be found at nacsonline.com/menulabeling.