Nutrition Regulation Map

Combined Map | Trans Fat Ban Map | Menu Labeling Initiative Map

Select your state or locality below to view the key highlights of foodservice nutrition regulatory initiatives.

Maryland

The Maryland House introduced a bill that would prohibit foodservice establishments from serving food containing artificial trans fat. A food is deemed to contain artificial trans fat if the label contains vegetable shortening, margarine, or oil, or lists hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, margarine, or oil as ingredients. The original label for food items must be kept on file. A product is classified as trans fat-free if it contains 0.5g or less of trans fat per serving. Food items sold in the original manufacturer�s packaging would be exempt. The House Health and Government Operations Committee is reviewing the measure.

The House introduced a bill on February 5, 2010 to require menu labeling in foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations nationwide. Calories must be displayed on menus and menus boards. Additional nutrition information would need to be available upon request. The additional nutrition information is: calories from total fat, grams of fat, grams of saturated fat, grams of trans fat, milligrams of cholesterol, milligrams of sodium, grams of carbohydrates, grams of sugar, grams of dietary fiber, and grams of protein. Information about the suggested daily caloric intake and the significance of the caloric information provided in the context of a total daily diet must be included on menus. The regulations would go into effect on October 1, 2010. The Health and Government Operations Committee gave the bill an unfavorable report and it was withdrawn from consideration.

The Senate introduced a bill on January 28, 2010 that would require restaurants with 15 or more locations nationwide to list calories on menus and menu boards. The grams of saturated fat including trans fat, grams of carbohydrates, and milligrams of sodium must be included on printed menus and in brochures. Additional nutrition information must be available upon request. Restaurant menus must include the following statement, ‘Recommended limits for a 2,000 calorie daily diet are 20 grams of saturated fat and 2,300 milligrams of sodium. Saturated fat numbers include trans fat.’ Restaurant menu boards must include the following statement, �A 2,000 calorie daily diet is used as the basis for general nutrition advice; however, individual calorie needs may vary.� The Senate Finance Committee gave the bill an unfavorable report and it was withdrawn.

The Senate introduced a new bill that was similar to the previously introduced menu labeling bill in February 2010, but it too has received an unfavorable report from the Senate Finance Committee. The House introduced a ban of artificial trans fat on February 5, 2010. A foodservice facility would be required to keep original labels for food items that may contain trans fat. A food is deemed to contain artificial trans fat if the label contains: vegetable shortening, margarine, or vegetable oil, or if the ingredients list partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, margarine, or vegetable oil. If the manufacturer�s nutrition facts panel shows trans fat to be less than 0.5 grams per serving then the item may be considered as not containing artificial trans fat. Nothing preempts any county or municipal from enacting any stricter guidelines. The act shall take effect October 1, 2011. The House Health and Government Operations Committee is reviewing the bill.

The 2009 state House and Senate introduced bills that would have required nutrition labeling for foodservice establishments with 15 or more locations nationwide. The nutrition information to be included was: calories, grams of saturated and trans fats, grams of carbohydrates, and milligrams of sodium. Both bills were withdrawn.

In 2008, a bill establishing a task force to study the elimination of trans fat was introduced. The House passed the legislation; however, the bill was held up in the Senate Finance Committee where it died at the end of the legislative session.

In 2007, Maryland�s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene began encouraging the food industry to eliminate trans fat in food items sold to customers after a bill to ban artificial trans fat was rejected.

Baltimore, MD

On March 27, 2008, the Baltimore City Council and Mayor, Shelia Dixon signed a trans fat ban into law. The ban prohibits foodservice establishments from serving, using, storing, distributing, or holding food-containing trans fat. The ban went into effect in September 2009.

Montgomery County, MD

The Montgomery County Council approved a ban on trans fat that took effect January 1, 2008 for frying oils and spreads, and January 1, 2009 for baked goods, batters, and sauces. A food contains artificial trans fat if it contains partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, margarine, or oil. A food label listing total trans fat content as less than 0.5 grams per serving does not contain artificial trans fat.

Menu labeling was introduced in 2007, but was withdrawn for further study. The Montgomery County Council passed a measure on November 17, 2009 that will require calories to be displayed on menus in foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations nationwide. Additional nutrition information must be available upon request. The date for implementation has been extended from July 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011. Restaurant owners must submit their implementation plans to the County by September 15, 2010.