MENU ITEM ANALYSIS
[Contact Us to submit menu for quote]

• Raw Materials Database - We create and maintain a custom database for your menu, allowing for easy menu modifications. This includes data evaluation of your purchased ingredients and sub-component recipes.   

• Nutrition Analysis - Includes database nutrition analysis or your own lab analysis for every purchased ingredient, sub-component recipe and complete menu item. More

• Ready-to-Publish Nutrition Guide - We prepare an excel spreadsheet of your nutrient profiles with rounded values in a ready-to-publish format.

FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS FOR RESTAURANT MENU LABELING

To whom does the new federal requirement for restaurant menu labeling apply?

The law applies to restaurants with 20+ locations with the same name (regardless of ownership) that offer "substantially the same" menu items.  It also applies to vending machine operators and "retail food establishments" which may include food service facilities in hospitals and schools, convenience stores and mobile carts.

When is the deadline for compliance?

FDA has until March 23, 2011, to issue a proposed rule. A comment period will follow.
After the final rule is published, compliance is likely to be within six months.

What do I have to do to comply?

Compliance will require that your printed menu or menu board include:

1. Calorie disclosure next to "standard menu items" in the same size and prominence as the price of the menu item

2. A statement about suggested daily caloric intake (i.e., 2000 calories per day)

3. Notification that other nutrition information is available on request

Does the same requirement apply to menu boards (whether inside the restaurant or at the drive-thru)?

Yes. Calories must also be disclosed on menu boards for "standard menu items," along with the statement about suggested daily caloric intake and availability of additional nutrition information on request.

How does the law define "standard menu items"?

Standard menu items are offered for sale at least 60 days per calendar year. Daily specials, custom orders and test market items are exempt.

What other information will I have to make available on request?

The additional nutrients specified in the law include: calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber and protein. However, when FDA publishes the final rule, the law allows the agency to include additional required nutrients. Specifically, trans fat will very likely be added to the list.

Does the requirement also include food allergens?

No, not at this time. Many restaurants choose to provide information on the "Big 8" allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish) next to the nutrition information in brochures and on websites for consumer use.

How do I get the calorie counts and other nutrition information for my menu items?

Based on our database nutrition analysis of your recipe formulation or your 100-gram lab data, Food Consulting Company prepares a Ready-to-Publish Nutrition Guide for your menu with rounded values for use in brochures, menus, and on the web.

How much will it cost?

Project fees vary depending on the number and complexity of menu items. Contact Us to submit your menu for a quote.

Where can I access the law that requires restaurant menu labeling?

This provision is included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act ("healthcare reform"), Section 4205, Page 455. You can access it here.

How can I stay informed on the specifics of the FDA regulations and compliance requirements of the new law?

Subscribe to Food Label News, a free monthly email publication by Food Consulting Company on what matters in food labeling.

Can I get started right away?

Yes, please Contact Us to submit your menu for a quote. Special pricing is in effect for projects initiated in 2010. Get started now and you’ll be ahead of the curve!