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.

Pennsylvania

In June 2009, the House introduced the Menu Labeling Act. Foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations nationwide would be affected. By January 1, 2012, every foodservice establishment would have to list calories on menus, menu boards, display tags, or brochures. Additional nutrition information that would need to be made available includes: grams of carbohydrates, grams of saturated fat, and milligrams of sodium. Menus and menu boards may include a statement that indicates there may be variations in nutrition information based on variations of overall size and quantity of ingredients and special orders. The bill would become effective 60 days after becoming law. The bill is under review by the House Committee on Commerce.

Pennsylvania considered legislation in 2005 and 2006 that would have required chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to provide nutrition information on their menus. Both bills died at the end of the legislative sessions.

Philadelphia, PA

The Philadelphia City Council adopted legislation to ban trans fat in foodservice establishments. By September 1, 2007, the ban applied to oils and shortenings, and by September 1, 2008, the ban applied to all other foods.

The Philadelphia Board of Health passed menu labeling requirements for foodservice establishments with 15 or more locations nationwide. On menus, calories, grams of saturated and trans fat, grams of carbohydrates, and milligrams of sodium must be listed. The following statement must also be included, “For a typical adult who consumes 2,000 calories a day, the recommended limits are 20 grams of saturated fat, and 2,300 milligrams of sodium.” On menu boards, calories must be listed with the additional nutrition information available upon request. Self Serve Service items must show calories. For packaged delivery foods, the same requirements shown for menus apply. Restaurants will be considered in violation of the law if the nutrition information they display is more than 20% lower than proven. The requirement went into effect January 1, 2010.