An extra year has been provided to restaurants, grocery stores and movie theatres to be in line with US rules for calorie counts on food menus. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday agreed to requests of Congress and food industry groups to give retailers time until December 2016 to adhere to the rules.

December 2015 was set as the original deadline by the regulatory agency after it completed the menu-labelling rule in November 2014. The FDA was asked by Congress in May to provide an extension in the compliance date. The agency was pressurized for the extension by 30 senators on behalf of companies that were finding it difficult to figure out which foods need calorie count.

Additional guidance to help companies understand the rules will be released by the FDA next month, said Mr. Taylor.

Some restaurants, including McDonald's, has already started developing strategies to comply with the rules. The pizza industry, including Domino's Pizza, has presented its side for argument, saying exemption should be provided to it as its customers usually place orders order online or by phone.

The FDA said in a statement, "We have decided to extend the compliance date for the final rule to Dec. 1, 2016. The final rule requirements are intended to ensure that consumers are provided accurate, clear and consistent nutrition information for foods sold in covered establishments in a direct and accessible manner".

The FDA said that the rules will allow consumers to make informed and healthful dietary choices.