|
 |
Background:
More and more cities, counties, and states are passing differing laws mandating that chain restaurants put calories and other nutrition information on menus. The result is a growing patchwork of regulation that is not helpful to the consumer and is harmful to restaurateurs.
National Restaurant Association research has shown that Americans are seeking to eat healthfully when they dine out. While many restaurant chains have responded to this trend by offering nutrition information, state and local policymakers have reacted by passing menu labeling laws. Instead, the federal government should set a single national standard for nutrition-information disclosure for chain foodservice companies.
Such a uniform national nutrition standard will allow consumers access to detailed nutrition information that meets their needs while providing clarity, consistency and flexibility for restaurants in how that information is provided.
On March 10, 2009, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.)and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act of 2009, S. 558. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) introduced companion legislation in the House, H.R. 1398. The bill looks to expand current packaged food labeling law to require a uniform national nutrition labeling standard for chain foodservice establishments, while providing a reasonable range of flexibility for the restaurant. While the LEAN Act would require a uniform national nutrition standard, the law also would provide for a single set of guidelines in how nutrition information is calculated and will provide legal protection for those restaurants that abide by the law.
As larger chain restaurants with standard menus and standard methods of preparation are better situated to meet such requirements, the LEAN Act would apply only to chains with 20 or more units.
Coalition For Responsible Nutrition Information
With the introduction of the LEAN Act, a new coalition, of which the National Restaurant Association is a leader, was announced to support this flexible federal legislation. The Coalition for Responsible Nutrition Information (CRNI) was formed to ensure that consumers across the country will have access to detailed nutrition information when they dine out. For a complete nutritional picture, CRNI believes consumers in chain restaurants should have access to a broad range of nutrition information including sodium, fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates and protein, in addition to calories. CRNI believes the federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA), which requires uniform labels for nutrition information on packaged foods and beverages, should be expanded to include food sold by chain food service establishments. The Coalition (www.nationalnutritionstandards.com) has as members more than thirty companies and associations that represent restaurant owners and franchisees, food manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, business organizations and health organizations.
View the press release announcing the coalition here.
Copy of Legislation:
Click here to view the legislation.
Talking Points:
1. Customers should have consistent information.
Some of the state and local menu-labeling laws for chain restaurants focus solely on caloric information. Others include different nutrition data points. Shoppers for packaged foods see the same nutrition data no matter where the store is located; these shoppers should see the same information no matter where they dine at a chain foodservice establishment.
2. Restaurants should have flexibility and freedom from frivolous lawsuits. Foodservice establishments vary greatly — from carry-out to delivery, buffets to quickservice to table service, convenience stores to grocery stores. Restaurateurs should have the flexibility to present nutrition information in the ways their guests want. Restaurateurs also should be able to use simple, inexpensive means to determine nutrition data, without fear of a lawsuit because of unavoidable variances found in restaurant food. Some restaurants may choose to put all the information directly on the menu. Others may choose alternative methods such as electronic kiosks, supplemental menus or wall posters.
3. A single, consistent national nutrition labeling standard is the answer. Cities, counties and states do not require different labels for packaged foods, and those jurisdictions should not be able to set different requirements for foodservice establishments. As with packaged goods,nutrition information requirements should be set at the national level.
Questions?
Contact Dan Roehl at (202) 331-5900 or droehl@restaurant.org.
Related Association news releases
•
[June 10, 2009]
National Restaurant Association Backs Bipartisan Senate Agreement To Empower Consumers Nationwide with More Nutrition Information
|
© Copyright 2009 National Restaurant Association. All rights reserved.
RSS Feeds
