| Recent legislation has passed requiring the restaurant | | | | choices as they review the caloric and nutritional |
| industry to provide nutritional information about their | | | | information. |
| menu items. The new bill will require California | | | | California restaurants will be required to provide calorie |
| restaurants with 20 or more locations to provide | | | | and nutritional fact information on their menus. The law |
| brochures with nutritional information by July 1, 2009. In | | | | was passed on the grounds that the government is |
| addition by January 1, 2011, restaurants will need to post | | | | able to pass laws protecting the public's health and |
| calories on their menus and menu boards for patrons | | | | safety. This includes disclosing factual information |
| to view. This legislation requirement is actually a | | | | which is where this legislation falls. Healthy choices |
| positive step for both customers and restaurant | | | | consumers make are now filtering into the eating out |
| owners. | | | | category. As an overweight society, knowing what |
| By providing nutritional information for their menu items, | | | | and how much we consume is one step towards a |
| restaurants will allow customers to make informed, | | | | healthier lifestyle. Losing pounds, eating healthier and |
| healthy choices about the foods they consume. The | | | | becoming more active all contribute to a decrease in |
| Federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act has | | | | serious health problems such as diabetes, heart |
| required mandatory labeling of all packaged goods sold | | | | disease and cancer. |
| in the USA and intended for purchase by consumers | | | | This law will help chefs understand the nutritional |
| for years. Studies have shown that almost 50% of | | | | impact of their dishes and therefore enable them to |
| adult consumers report that they do look at nutrition | | | | become more competitive in creating healthful and |
| labels to compare fat, carbohydrate, salt and sugar | | | | delicious foods. Nutritional information on menus will |
| amounts. Often this will cause the consumer to change | | | | provide restaurants the opportunity to have their |
| their food purchasing habits opting for a healthier | | | | recipes analyzed by an outside nutritional analysis |
| choice even if it costs more money. Nutrition labeling in | | | | company. In turn the nutritional reports and analyses |
| restaurants will provide customers with the same | | | | restaurants receive will allow them to offer menu |
| opportunity and responsibility to choose what they | | | | items with reduced calories, carbohydrates, saturated |
| wish to eat. Americans are estimated to be spending | | | | fats, trans fats, and sodium. Reports prepared by a |
| an average of 50% of their food budget eating out | | | | nutritional analysis company will also provide |
| each week. Many consumers eat out an average of | | | | restaurants with information to determine if their dishes |
| two times a week at fast food establishments. Most | | | | meet FDA guidelines to include additional labeling of |
| of these patrons significantly underestimate the | | | | "low fat", "sugar free", "high in fiber" etc. Perceptive |
| calories in fast food and sit down restaurants as | | | | restaurants are jumping ahead to provide nutritious, |
| portion sizes have increased in the United States. | | | | delicious menu items their customers demand by |
| Studies have shown that consumers make healthier | | | | including the nutrition facts label on the menu early and |
| food choices in markets by comparing food labels. | | | | avoiding the last minute scramble to meet this new |
| Therefore, the intention is to provide nutritional data for | | | | legislation. |
| menu items so that patrons will make healthier lifestyle | | | | |