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ALBANY -- Two outspoken opponents of Albany County's trans fat ban, both of whom own bakeries, were among four business people receiving warning letters this week from the county that they violated the ban, could face fines and must appear at a hearing.
But County Legislature Chairman Dan McCoy said Tuesday that the Aug. 18 hearing would be adjourned while he attempts to work with health officials to find a common ground with the bakers.
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FDA Issues Terms for Voluntary Compliance with Menu Labeling Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice specifying the terms and conditions for voluntary compliance with section 4205 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which established nutritional labeling requirements for chain restaurants with more than 20 locations and vending machine operators with more than 20 machines. Other retailers not covered by section 4205 can elect to become subject to the federal law by registering biannually with FDA.
Restaurants and similar establishments that voluntarily opt in “will no longer be subject to State or local nutritional labeling requirements unless those requirements are identical to Federal requirements,” according to the agency. Vending machine operators are already covered by state and local regulations identical to federal requirements, although Congress has “expressly provided” that they may still undertake voluntary registration. The agency will accept comments until October 21, 2010. See Federal Register, July 23, 2010.
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Baking Sans Trans
For the last few years, the food industry has had an image problem. Congress is pressing for increased food- safety legislation; consumers are skeptically eyeing ingredient labels; and consumers are turning to locally grown and produced foods. In my town, that includes buying home-baked goods from neighbors. It seems that trust lies heaviest where there is zero regulation.
At last the industry has some good news, at least in the realm of healthier fats. A recent study failed to validate this consumer mistrust. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), affectionately known as the food police, hired Harvard researchers to see if food manufacturers have simply replaced trans fats with potentially "bad" saturated fats. The results, published in the May 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, (362(21):2,037-2,039) found that after reformulation, almost all of the 83 brand-name packaged and restaurant foods had lower amounts of trans and saturated fatty acids than their earlier counterparts. The researchers concluded that the industry has met the trans challenge by producing heart-healthier foods.
There is still room for improvement, though. Some foods have faced a more-difficult transition than others, including baked goods.
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Consumers Eager for Menu Labeling
With a national calorie-posting mandate on the horizon for chains with 20 or more units, signed as part of the federal health care bill, restaurant-goers are welcoming the notion of menu transparency, according to a survey by trend tracker Mintel.
Still, consumers want their food to taste good above all else. More than 60 percent of consumers think nutrition information should be posted on menus, and 44 percent believe federal or local governments should make that happen, the survey released Wednesday by Chicago-based Mintel found.
New USDA Nutrition Guidelines Focus on Unhealthy Population
The latest set of national dietary guidelines acknowledges that many Americans are unhealthy and emphasizes efforts to battle the obesity epidemic.
In addition to lower sodium and saturated and trans fat goals, the recommendations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services also call for policymakers and the food industry to become engaged in the fight.
"The most important issue is that this set of guidelines is addressing an unhealthy American public for the first time," said Linda Van Horn of Northwestern University, chair of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. "The obesity epidemic is priority number one, and every single thing in this report is focused on addressing that problem up front."
Yet in terms of intake recommendations, there are not many changes from the last guidelines update in 2005. (link to article)
King County Tweaks Menu-Labeling Rules
Some changes are coming to King County's menu–labeling regulation. Today members of the Seattle–King County Health Board will hear recommendations on how to align its laws with new federal standards.
It's been over a year since the Seattle–King County Health Board required that chain restaurants inform customers about the calories and nutritional content of their food. Back then Seattle was one of two cities with a menu–labeling requirement. Soon, all states must provide that information, under the federal health care law. For now, King County customers will see very little change. Meanwhile the county is gearing up for the transition...link to article
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Lawmakers ask for a side of calories
Counting your calories could get a whole lot easier under a proposal released Wednesday that would require Florida restaurants and fast food chains to list the caloric content of each meal on the menu.
Rep. Ed Homan (R-Tampa) and Sen. Steve Wise (R-Jacksonville) have filed legislation that would require nutritional labeling to appear directly on the menus. The information, the lawmakers said, will help patrons make healthier choices and put a dent in the nation's obesity rate...(link to article)
Troutman Advises Against Ban on Trans Fats
There won’t be a ban on harmful artificial trans fats any time soon in Jefferson County.
Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Health and Wellness, recommended to a metro council committee Wednesday that the city not implement a county-wide ban on hydrogenated oils in the preparation of food in restaurants...(link to article)
Philly begins enforcement of menu information law
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Restaurants in Philadelphia must now show customers the caloric content of their dishes.
The city's health department is beginning enforcement Monday of the city's new menu labeling law. The law took effect at the start of the year but officials gave restaurants a month to prepare...(link to article)
Delaware Moves to Require Menu Labeling
DOVER, Del. (Jan. 22, 2010) Delaware became the latest state to weigh in on the menu-labeling issue when the Senate passed a measure requiring that restaurants post nutrition data on menus. The bill now moves to the House.
Passed by a 15-5 vote, the measure, SB 81, would require chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to list the number of calories on menus and menu boards. The information must be provided adjacent to each item in a size and typeface similar to the price and other information...(link to article)
NJ Readies Menu Labeling Law
TRENTON, N.J.: New Jersey lawmakers passed Wednesday a measure requiring restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets around the country to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards in their locations throughout the state.
The state Assembly passed the bill by a margin of 42 to 32, with one abstention. The Senate had passed the bill late last year by 22 to 15, and now it goes to the governor for his signature. Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign the menu labeling legislation. Once signed, the law gives chain restaurants one year to comply...(link to article)
New Laws 2010: California Bans Trans Fat in Restaurants
Starting on Jan 1, 2010, California prohibits restaurants from using oils, margarines and shortening with more than half a gram of trans fat per serving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The new law was actually passed by the California Legislature in 2008, but the state gave the restaurants time to change their recipes and menu to avoid introduction of trans fat into restaurants-prepared meals....(link to article)
Diners Eat Fewer Calories When Menu Lists Entrees’ Contents
Diners consume far fewer calories at dinner and afterward when the calorie content of entrees is listed on the menus along with information on how many calories they should consume in a day, a new study shows.
Researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University recruited 303 adults and invited them to have a dinner with lots of different restaurant menu options...(link to article)
Broome Bans Trans Fats in Eateries
Broome County legislators on Thursday enacted a new law banning trans fats in cooking oil at the county's 700-odd eateries, but not all 19 lawmakers think it's a good idea.
“I didn't sign on to be legislating to residents what people should eat,” said Ronald Keibel, one of five Republicans who voted against the measure. One of 14 Democrats, John Hutchings, also voted against the law, which passed 13-6.
The law would ban the use of trans fats in cooking oil and would be enforced by the Broome County Health Department...(link to article)
Congress Fights Obesity With Healthcare Bills
In 2018, more than half the adults in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, and South Dakota could be obese. That's just one of many alarming projections in a study released last week by Kenneth Thorpe, chair of Emory University's Department of Health Policy and Management, and it comes, appropriately, as Congress is grappling with how to best reform a healthcare system that is becoming wildly and unsustainably expensive....(link to article)
N.J. Latest state to tackle menu labeling
TRENTON, N.J. — (Nov. 24, 2009) Officials of the New Jersey Restaurant Association say they strongly oppose the passage of a bill requiring some restaurants in the state to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
The measure, which was approved Monday by the Senate’s state health committee by a vote of 7-0, requires restaurants in New Jersey with 20 or more outlets across the country to post calorie counts adjacent to food and beverage items and offer additional nutritional information to customers upon request...(link to article)
Maryland county to require menu labeling
ROCKVILLE, MD — (Nov. 17, 2009) Montgomery County Council members passed a measure Tuesday requiring some restaurants to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
The law, which was passed by an 8-1 vote, requires restaurants in the Maryland county with 20 or more outlets nationwide to post calorie counts alongside food items and provide additional nutritional information to customers upon request...(link to article)
Health Care Reform Bill includes menu labeling for chain restaurants
WASHINGTON, DC — Part of the 1,990 page health care reform bill introduced by Nancy Pelosi yesterday (October 29th, 2009) includes a new mandate for chain restaurants with over 20 public locations. The bill proposes that the specified restaurants would be required to prominently post the amount of calories and in some cases more nutritional information for standard menu items...(link to article)
Calorie Counts on Menus Force Hard Choices
NEW YORK — Alejandra Ramos has lost her appetite for the occasional carnitas burrito from Chipotle, the frozen frappucino from Starbucks and the blueberry muffin from Dunkin' Donuts. And she's not happy about it.
"Once they put up the calorie counts, then suddenly I was like, `I can't eat this, this is a whole day's worth of calories,'" said Ramos, 26, of her Chipotle burrito. At Starbucks, the culinary writer said, "I have ended up ordering a hot tea, which is nothing, or a bottle of water." Blame New York City officials for her misery. The city requires chain restaurants to post calories alongside menu items, which means she has to face the music...(link to article)