Restaurant Menu Labelling

Recent legislation passed requiring the restaurant industry to provide information on their menus. The new California law will require restaurants with 20 or more so they can provide brochures with nutritional information before 1 July 2009. Also on 1 January 2011 will require restaurants to post calories on their menus and lists for users to view. This legislative requirement is actually positive for customers and restaurant owners. By providing nutrition information of their menu items, the restaurants that customers can make informed decisions, choices about the food they eat.

The Federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requires labeling of all packaged products sold in the United States and for the purchase of consumers for years. Studies have shown that almost 50% of adult consumers said they read nutrition labels to compare fat and salt, carbohydrate, and the quantities of sugar. Often this will cause consumers to change their food buying habits to choose a healthier option, even if it costs more money. Nutrition labeling in restaurants will offer customers the same opportunity and responsibility to choose what they eat. Americans are estimated to spend an average of 50% of its food budget to eat out every week. Many consumers eat on average twice a week at fast food restaurants. Most of these models significantly underestimate the calories in fast food restaurants, such as sitting portion sizes have increased in the United States. Studies have shown that consumers choose healthy foods on the market by comparing food labels. Therefore, the intention is to provide nutritional data for menu items so that customers will make healthier choices to consider calorie and nutritional information. California restaurants will be required to provide nutritional information and calorie information on their menus.

Read more »