Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized two rules requiring that calorie information be listed on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments. Also, additional nutrition information will need to be made available to consumers, upon request.
The menu labeling final rule applies to restaurants and similar retail food establishments if they are part of a chain of 20 or more locations, doing business under the same name, and offering for sale substantially the same menu items.
Including:
- Amusement Parks
- Bakery and Coffee Shop Treats
- Certain Alcoholic Beverages
- Drive-Thrus
- Foods Ordered from a Menu Board at Grocery Stores
- Foods Prepared On Site at Convenience Stores and Gas Stations
- Foods Prepared On Site at Warehouse Stores
- Hot Food Bars
- Movie Theaters
- Restaurants
- Salad Bars
- Take-Out Food
- Treats for Immediate Consumption at Ice Cream Stores
Restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are covered, including those that voluntarily register with FDA to comply with the menu labeling requirements, will have one year from the date of publication of the menu labeling final rule to comply with the requirements (November 2015).
The vending machine final rule requires operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines to disclose calorie information for food sold from vending machines. These operators will have two years to comply.
Learn More About the Menu and Vending Machines Labeling Requirements
How We Can Help
The Nutrition Resource Center (NRC) can provide nutrition analysis of menus and recipes for customers. Contact the NRC at nrc@gfs.com or (800) 968-4426 for this service.