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FDA finalizes calorie information rules for menus, vending machines
The FDA finalized two rules requiring calorie information be clearly listed on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, similar retail food establishments and vending machines, according to a statement from the agency.
“Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home, and people today expect clear information about the products they consume,” Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, FDA Commissioner, said in the statement.
Margaret A. Hamburg
The rules, required by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, apply to restaurants and establishments with at least 20 locations that are doing business under the same name and offering relatively the same menu items, according to the statement. Entertainment venue chains, such as movie theaters and amusement parks, are included.
In addition to listing calorie content for standard items on menus and menu boards, nutrient information, including total calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein, must be made available in writing upon request. Statements about the availability of such information, along with suggested daily caloric intake, must be included.
Seasonal and temporary menu items, and typical condiments on counters, are exempt from the labeling requirements. Certain alcoholic beverages are included in the rule, with flexibility in how establishments meet the provision.
Vending machine operators with at least 20 machines are also required to disclose calorie content for certain items, according to the statement.
The rules come after two proposed regulations issued by the FDA earlier in the year; the agency considered more than 1,100 comments from stakeholders and consumers. Compliance with the menu labeling requirements should occur within one year; vending machine operators have two years to comply.
“Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus and vending machines is an important step for public health that will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families,” Hamburg said.
For More Information:
Final Rule: Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food in Vending Machines