Pressure On for Labeling
Restaurant Foods
In August 2008, the consumer advocacy group
Center Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
released results from an investigation into the
nutritional quality of kids’ meals at top
restaurant chains. The investigation focused on
calories provided in kids' meal combinations. Of
1,474 possible menu item combinations calculated
for calories, 93% exceeded 430 calories, the
amount that is one-third of what the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends that
sedentary children aged four through eight
should consume in a day; some combinations
exceeded this amount by two and three times.
Posting calories on menus is one of CSPI’s
public policy initiatives. The group's website
promotes activating state and
local governments to establish mandatory
labeling and frequently issues press releases
regarding legislative activity.
FDA has not identified mandatory nutrition
labeling for restaurant foods as a priority nor
has it proposed rules. However, through its
Obesity Working Group/Keystone Forum on
Away-From-Home Foods, the Agency has studied and
given advice on steps restaurants should take to
help reduce the country's overweight and obesity
rate.
Read
Keystone report.
Read
CSPI press release.
Commentary: Food Consulting Company
believes it is likely state and local
governments will increasingly require calorie
and nutrition labeling for restaurant foods and
that CSPI and other consumer groups will
continue to exert pressure for this. With this
in mind and for consumer goodwill, Food
Consulting Company encourages restaurants to
voluntarily initiate calorie/nutrition labeling.
Food Consulting Company provides nutritional
analysis for restaurant menu items and can assist in
identifying menu item combinations that will
appeal to consumers for calorie and nutrient
content.
Contact us to
discuss your needs.
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