LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Yum! Brands announced Wednesday that its U.S. divisions will begin to voluntarily put calorie information on their menu boards in company-owned restaurants.

Yum! is the parent company of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food.

Franchisees will be encouraged to provide the same information on their menu boards. Calorie information will be based on individual serving sizes and will be phased onto menu boards beginning this year and completed by Jan. 1, 2011.

The company has also said it will push for federal regulation calling for uniform guidelines on menu-board labeling.

"We believe we have a continued responsibility to offer 'Better For You' options, educate consumers about the foods they eat, and promote exercise so they can maintain a balanced lifestyle," said Jonathan Blum, Yum! Brands’ chief public affairs officer. "Our customers have told us they would find calorie information useful, along with other nutritional information we make accessible in restaurant brochures and on our Web sites.”

Source: Yum! Brands Inc.