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Menu Labeling

Margo G. Wootan
VP for Nutrition
mwootan@cspinet.org
@CSPI @MargoWootan
www.cspinet.org
CSPI: America’s Food & Health Watchdog
Eating Out Has Doubled

https://www.businessinsider.com/food-spending-on-home-versus-away-from-home-2017-7
Eating Out Linked to Obesity
Studies link eating out w/:
• Obesity
• Eating more calories
• More sat fat, soda
• Fewer fruits, veg

http://bit.ly/EatingOutEffects
Restaurant Foods
Appetizers Calories Sat
Fat (g)
Buffalo Wings (12) w/ Dressing 1,010 22
Stuffed Potato Skins (8) 1,620
33
Pretzels w/ Dipping Sauce 1,190 25

Entrees
French Toast w/ Syrup & Margarine 910
13
Chipotle Chicken Burrito 1,085 16
Cajun Shrimp & Chicken Pasta 1,430 46
Chicken and Biscuits 2,260 28

Meals
Chicken Ranch Sandwich & Fries 1,580
16
Double Whopper
Large Size Value Meal 1,600
16
Fried Seafood Platter 1,700 10

Sweets
Cinnabon (1) 880 17
Fudge Brownie Sundae 1,130
Calories Vary Widely
Starbucks, grande Calories
Cappuccino, nonfat 80
White Chocolate Mocha, 2% & whip 430
Iced Skinny Mocha 120
Caramel Frappuccino, nonfat 200
Caramel Frappuccino, 2% & whip 410
Goals of Menu Labeling
• Bring nutrition into restaurant setting
• Consumer right to know
• Healthier choices
• Spur restaurant menu improvements

Tuna salad Roast beef


-vs-
720 calories 460 calories
Washington
State and Local
United MenuofLabeling
States AmericaPolicies Schenectady
County
Vermont
Chicago, IL Albany
County, NY Westchester
King County, WA
County, NY New
Rockland
Maine Hampshire
County, NY
Lane Oregon
Massachusetts
County, OR Ulster
Multnomah County, NY Connecticut
County* Rhode Island
New York
Nassau
California
County, NY
Iowa Pennsylvania New York, NY
San
Francisco* Ohio Suffolk County, NY
Illinois New Jersey
San
Indiana West-
Mateo Philadelphia
Virginia
County*
Delaware
Missouri Kentucky
Santa Maryland
Clara Tennessee Montgomery
County* Arizona Oklahoma County, MD
New Mexico Arkansas
LA County Washington, DC

Davidson County, TN**


Texas
Florida
Hawaii

Implemented

Passed

Introduced 2009

*Superceded by state law. Introduced 2003-2008


**TN Legislature retracted county regulations. April 2011
National Menu Labeling
• Restaurants, supermarkets,
convenience store, movie
theaters
• Chains; ≥20 outlets
• Calories on menus, menu
boards, food tags, buffets,
vending
• Other nutrition info on
brochures, posters, kiosks, etc.
• May 7, 2018
• Effectiveness
• ↓ 40 cal/entrée = effect on
reformulation
• ↓ 50 cal/meal = effect on
ordering
Menu Labeling Regulations
• March 2010 – law enacted

• April 2011 – proposed regs

• Dec 2014 – final regs

• Sept 2015 – proposed guidance

• May 2016 – final guidance

• May 2017 – Trump


Administration delays ML

• June 2017 – CSPI sues FDA

• May 2018 - menu labeling


implementation
Supermarkets & Convenience Stores
• Supermarkets and convenience
stores lobbied to be exempt
• Law covers all est. that sell
restaurant and restaurant-type
food
o Bakeries
o Buffets/hot bars
o Salad bars
o Many supermarkets have
tables for eating in—some
restaurants do not
Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act
• Opposed by public health
groups
• Exempt supermarkets, c-
stores
• Deny customers calorie
information
• Industry-determined serving
sizes
• Weaken
enforcement/consumer
protection
• Bill passed House, not
Senate
Movie Theaters & Alcohol
initially exempt
• Theater calorie counts high
• Many theaters have full
menus
• Sell many foods

• Alcohol
• Law requires labeling all
menu items
• Alcohol and health:
• 5th largest source of
calories
• Calorie counts can be high
• Calorie counts vary
Menu Labeling Regulations
• March 2010 – law enacted

• April 2011 – proposed regs

• Dec 2014 – final regs

• Sept 2015 – proposed guidance

• May 2016 – final guidance

• May 2017 – Trump


Administration delays ML

• June 2017 – CSPI sues FDA

• May 2018 - menu labeling


implementation
Does menu labeling affect food choices?
Lit review at www.menulabeling.org

• NYC: 1 in 6 use menu labeling,


reduce fast-food lunch by 100
calories
• Starbucks study: 6% decrease
in calories per transaction
• People buying more
calories: 26% decrease
• Cochrane Institute review: 50
cal/meal
• Seattle/King County: 40 cal
decrease in chain restaurant
entrees
• Obesity due to extra 250 cal/day
Next Step: Kids’ Meal Policies
• Kids’ Meal Policies
• 16 Adopted: California;
Hawaii; NYC; Wilmington
(DE); Baltimore (MD);
Lafayette (CO); Louisville
(KY); San Francisco, Long
Beach
• In progress: DC, DE,
Philadelphia, NYS

• Convince restaurants to drop


sugary drinks from kids’ menu
www.cspinet.org
Email:
mwootan@cspinet.org
@CSPI, @MargoWootan

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