Restaurant Menu Labeling

Recent legislation has passed requiring the restaurant industry to provide nutritional information about their menu items. The new bill will require California restaurants with 20 or more locations to provide brochures with nutritional information by July 1, 2009. In addition by January 1, 2011, restaurants will need to post calories on their menus and menu boards for patrons to view. This legislation requirement is actually a positive step for both customers and restaurant owners.
By providing nutritional information for their menu items, restaurants will allow customers to make informed, healthy choices about the foods they consume. The Federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act has required mandatory labeling of all packaged goods sold in the USA and intended for purchase by consumers for years. Studies have shown that almost 50% of adult consumers report that they do look at nutrition labels to compare fat, carbohydrate, salt and sugar amounts. Often this will cause the consumer to change their food purchasing habits opting for a healthier choice even if it costs more money. Nutrition labeling in restaurants will provide customers with the same opportunity and responsibility to choose what they wish to eat. Americans are estimated to be spending an average of 50% of their food budget eating out each week. Many consumers eat out an average of two times a week at fast food establishments. Most of these patrons significantly underestimate the calories in fast food and sit down restaurants as portion sizes have increased in the United States. Studies have shown that consumers make healthier food choices in markets by comparing food labels. Therefore, the intention is to provide nutritional data for menu items so that patrons will make healthier lifestyle choices as they review the caloric and nutritional information.

California restaurants will be required to provide calorie and nutritional fact information on their menus. The law was passed on the grounds that the government is able to pass laws protecting the public’s health and safety. This includes disclosing factual information which is where this legislation falls. Healthy choices consumers make are now filtering into the eating out category. As an overweight society, knowing what and how much we consume is one step towards a healthier lifestyle. Losing pounds, eating healthier and becoming more active all contribute to a decrease in serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
This law will help chefs understand the nutritional impact of their dishes and therefore enable them to become more competitive in creating healthful and delicious foods. Nutritional information on menus will provide restaurants the opportunity to have their recipes analyzed by an outside nutritional analysis company. In turn the nutritional reports and analyses restaurants receive will allow them to offer menu items with reduced calories, carbohydrates, saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium. Reports prepared by a nutritional analysis company will also provide restaurants with information to determine if their dishes meet FDA guidelines to include additional labeling of “low fat”, “sugar free”, “high in fiber” etc. Perceptive restaurants are jumping ahead to provide nutritious, delicious menu items their customers demand by including the nutrition facts label on the menu early and avoiding the last minute scramble to meet this new legislation.