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.

Federal Information

The Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act was introduced in the Senate on March 10, 2009 and re-introduced in the House on March 9, 2009. This bipartisan initiative would require foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations nationwide to disclose: calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and protein. Foodservice establishments will have flexibility in how they present the nutrition information to consumers. For �quick serve� foodservice establishments, the nutrition information will be displayed on menu boards, wall signs, or in queues. For foodservice establishments classified as �seated dining,� the nutrition information will be displayed on menus, a menu insert, or a menu appendix.

The primary goal of the LEAN Act is to create a uniform nutrition information disclosure system, and to get away from what is being called a �patchwork system,� where different state and local regulations vary.

The Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act was introduced on May 14, 2009. The Act would require foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations nationwide to list calories, grams of saturated plus trans fat, grams of carbohydrates, and milligrams for sodium for standard menus. For menu boards, calories must be listed and additional information must be available at the point of purchase. For self-service food and food on display, a sign shall be made available adjacent to the food listing calories per displayed food or per serving.

In June 2009, a bipartisan agreement combined the Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act and Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act to create a single uniform nutrition labeling standard, which has been included as part of the Health Reform bill. The bill would preempt all state and local nutrition labeling regulations that do not have standards similar to the federal legislation. The consolidated bill would affect foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations nationwide. Foodservice establishments would be required to post calories on menus and menu boards for standard menu items. Standard menu items are those items on menus for more than 60 days. Other nutrition information would need to be available upon request. This information includes: calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and protein. Restaurants would also be required to include a statement about the suggested daily calorie intake. The health care reform bill passed in the House on November 7, 2009 and in the Senate on December 24, 2009. On March 22, 2010, President Obama signed the healthcare reform bill, and on March 23, 2010 it became law. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have one year to review and develop any additional regulations. The regulations will be released by March 23, 2011.

On July 7, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced they would be accepting public comments to aid the agency in developing regulations for federal menu labeling. The FDA has encouraged all interested parties to submit comments. Comments will be accepted until September 7, 2010.

The FDA is also allowing foodservice establishments with 19 or fewer locations nationwide to voluntarily adopt federal menu labeling requirements. If foodservice establishments voluntarily register with the FDA, they are no longer subject to state or local menu labeling requirements.

On July 22, 2009, the U.S. Senate introduced a bill that would prohibit any school that participates in the federal school meal programs from serving foods that contain trans fat from partially hydrogenated oils. If enacted, there would be a five-year phase-out period, which would enable schools to make the needed changes to be in compliance. Schools would receive guidance during the transition period to help find alternatives, specifically good oil alternatives. The bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.

The Trans Fat Truth in Labeling Act of 2009 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 23, 2009. The act would require the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to make revisions to federal regulations regarding trans fat. The new federal code would require the trans fat content per serving of food that is less than 0.5 grams, and where the trans fat content per serving is declared on the nutrition information label or in the labeling of food be expressed with an asterisk or other notation stating that the trans fat content is less than 0.5 grams per serving. It will no longer express that the product contains 0 grams of trans fat. The bill would take effect 18 months after enacted. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is reviewing the bill.