This month, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was supposed to roll out a nationwide scheme requiring chain restaurants and other food outlets to print nutritional information on their menus. However, after intense lobbying from stakeholders in the food industry, and fierce debate regarding rule specifications and cost, implementation of the regulation has been delayed another year.
So by Dec. 1, 2016, affected food retailers, including vending machines, will have to disclose calories and other nutrition information for their menu items.
Consumers and health industry professionals have been generally supportive of the proposed rules as a way to tackle a number of pressing health issues.
A written submission to the FDA in support of the law from licensed dietician Rebekah Buzolich, is representative of many comments:
“With American adults and children consuming about one-third of their calories from eating out, menu and vending labeling will provide important tools to allow people to make informed food choices.”
However, complying with these new rules can be a lengthy, costly, and confusing ordeal for many restaurants, groceries, and other food outlets and even with the one year extension, many issues are still far from settled.
