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.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts explored the possibility of banning artificial trans fat and requiring nutrition labeling in 2009 and will continue to do so in 2010. The first bill introduced would ban trans fat from being stored, distributed, held for services, and used in the preparation of any menu item with the exception of food served in the original manufacturer�s packaging. An education and outreach program would be utilized to ensure compliance. If adopted, the bill would be effective 12 months from that date for all oils, shortenings, and margarines used in frying and in spreads. An additional six months would be given to deep fried yeast dough and cake batter. The Joint Committee on Public Health gave the bill a favorable reading, and referred the bill to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on April 5, 2010.

The second bill introduced was the �Menu Labeling Act of 2009.� On May 13, 2009, the Massachusetts Public Health Council approved menu labeling for foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations in Massachusetts. The calorie posting requirement was set to go into effect on November 1, 2010; however, Massachusetts officials have decided to wait to implement menu labeling until the federal initiative takes affect.

In 2007, Massachusetts introduced two bills that would have regulated trans fat. The first bill would have required restaurants to list the trans fat content for food items. The second bill would have banned products with trans fat from being stored, distributed, held for service, or used in preparation of any restaurant menu item. Both bills died at the end of the legislative session.

Massachusetts has considered menu labeling legislation since 2004. Legislation introduced in 2007 would have applied to foodservice establishments with 10 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 per serving. No action was taken and the bill died at the end of the legislative session.

In 2002 and in 2007, proposals had been introduced to list the nutrition information of school menu items. The 2007 legislation would have required posters or charts with information to help students understand the nutrition label on items served in vending machines. Both bills died at the end of the legislative sessions.

Boston, MA

A ban has passed, which states that businesses, schools, and hospitals will have to stop using oils and spreads that contain trans fat. Prepackaged foods will not be included. They citywide ban began November 2008.

Brookline, MA

On May 29, 2007, the Brookline Department of Health was directed to reduce resident’s exposure to artificial trans fat in food offered at restaurants and schools. The deadline for eliminating trans fat in frying was November 30, 2008, and the deadline for eliminating trans fat in baked goods was April 30, 2009.

Cambridge, MA

Cambridge has banned artificial trans fat. The ban will take place in two phases. The first phase began July 1, 2009, and the second phase will began October 1, 2009.

Needham, MA

On March 10, 2009, the Board of Health adopted a regulation to eliminate food with artificial trans fat in city foodservice establishments, vending machines, or mobile food vendors. The regulation took effect September 10, 2009 for cooking oils, shortenings, and margarines, and went into effect on March 10, 2010 for baked goods and all other foods.

Newton, MA

Alderman, Vicki Danberg proposed a citywide ban of trans fat in 2007. It would have applied to all food served within the city limit, but no action has been taken to date.