Ohio lawsuit claims false listing of calories

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Applebee’s restaurant chain and Weight Watchers are facing another lawsuit alleging the Cajun Lime Tilapia fish dish on some menus contains more fat and diet “points” than listed.

A suit by an Ohio woman has been transferred from a county court to a federal court in Cincinnati and combined with one filed in Kansas.

The cases allege fraud, negligence and a conspiracy to conceal accurate nutritional information from consumers.

Applebee’s spokesman Patrick Lenow said today the company supports national labeling legislation. He says variations in calorie counts can occur because of ingredients and portions and a single sample does not invalidate a national average.

Applebee’s Weight Watchers’ menus list calories, fat and the “points” each meal would total in the Weight Watchers system.