Want to know exactly how many calories are in that order of fries? New federal guidelines that would force all chain restaurants to prominently display nutritional data on their menus were set to go into effect on May 5 — but thanks to industry lobbying, they’re being delayed another year until May 2018.
The menu labeling guidelines are a provision of 2010’s Affordable Care Act; under the rules, which were originally slated to take effect in December 2016, all restaurants with more than 20 locations will be required to display calorie counts for each menu item on menus and menu boards, as well as include a statement noting that additional nutritional information — including everything you’d find on a typical food facts label, such as sodium content, fat grams, protein, and sugar — is available upon request.
The rules apply to all food and beverages served at fast-food chains and sit-down restaurants alike, as well as convenience stores. (The only exceptions to the rule are condiments, daily specials, and limited-time offers sticking around for less than 90 days.) A number of chains, including McDonald’s and Starbucks, have already put menu labeling into effect in recent years in anticipation of the new guidelines.
This new delay is the result of efforts by groups representing the grocery store and convenience store industries. They’re arguing that the rules as they’re currently written don’t take into consideration the vast differences between how the various types of affected establishments operate (think fast-food restaurants versus pizza delivery chains versus gas stations). The industry groups claim the rules will place unfair burdens on businesses that sell food and drinks that aren’t displayed on a centralized menu board, such as gas stations that may have multiple drink stations where customers can get self-serve sodas, frozen drinks, or coffee.
The restaurant industry, and in particular the pizza industry, has also done its fair share of lobbying against the menu labeling laws, even as consumers, nutritionists, and healthy eating advocates insist that having calorie counts readily available is both helpful and necessary. But why? Here’s a brief look at the case for and against the FDA’s imminent menu labeling rules:
The argument against menu labeling
• Businesses say it’s expensive to implement. The ACA’s menu labeling law is based upon similar guidelines that took effect in New York City back in 2008. NYC’s rules have proved unpopular with many business owners who say they can be costly: In addition to coughing up money to create and install menu boards, they also must pay for lab testing to analyze each menu item’s nutritional content — something that must be repeated every time a restaurant debuts a new menu item.
• They don’t want diners to be horrified by the nutritional data. One reason a lot of restaurant food tastes so good is because it’s full of fat and salt — and no restaurant particularly wants to broadcast to its diners that they’re serving 2,000 calorie salads or 1,200 calorie milkshakes.
The argument for menu labeling
• To hold restaurants accountable for serving hideously unhealthy food. In light of America’s current epidemics of obesity and diabetes, some believe it’s simply irresponsible for restaurants to serve burgers with more calories than an average adult human needs in a day, or lattes that have more sugar than a candy bar.
• They hope it will help them make healthier food choices. By being fully informed about their choices, consumers can — at least in theory — try to make better choices about what they’re eating.
However, whether displaying nutritional information on menus actually causes consumers to make healthier choices or not is still up for debate: Recent studies have indicated that calorie counts on menus don't actually have much of an effect on what people order — but they may be somewhat effective in encouraging the restaurants themselves to offer lower-calorie foods.
• Calorie Labeling Rule Delayed by FDA Until Next Year [Chicago Tribune]
• Menu Labeling Requirements [FDA]
• Get Ready for Calorie Counts on Every Chain Menu in America [E]