| The movement to accurately label menu items with | | | | labeling and set a single national standard for menu |
| nutrition information is gaining ground at a remarkable | | | | labeling. |
| pace. In 2008, the state of California, the cities of New | | | | The Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act was |
| York and Philadelphia, and two counties in Washington | | | | introduced in 2008 and sets a national standard for |
| and Oregon passed legislation requiring restaurants to | | | | restaurant menu labeling. It is supported by the NRA |
| provide nutrition information to their customers. 20 | | | | and the Coalition for Responsible Nutrition Information |
| more cities, counties, and states currently have similar | | | | (CRNI), an NRA-led advocacy group. LEAN is currently |
| laws on their dockets. | | | | in front of Congress and awaits a vote. |
| Studies have shown that 75% of consumers favor | | | | As restaurants in places like California begin the |
| mandatory menu labeling in food service | | | | process of evaluating their menu nutrition information, a |
| establishments. Consumers are already familiar with | | | | new industry has sprung up around nutrition. One of |
| nutrition labeling since it became standard on food | | | | those companies is MenuCalc, a San Francisco based |
| products, and most want the same information when | | | | organization that has compiled a huge database of |
| they dine out. | | | | laboratory analyses of common food ingredients. |
| Critics cite the cost of analyzing menu items for their | | | | Restaurateurs can use this information, which is |
| nutritional content as being prohibitively expensive for | | | | accessible through the web, to create their own menu |
| most small and mid-size food service businesses. | | | | nutrition data. No matter what, menu labeling is probably |
| They also say menu variety will disappear because | | | | a trend in the food service industry that is beyond the |
| once a recipe is analyzed for its content, it cannot be | | | | point of no return. It's likely that in 10 years nutrition |
| changed even slightly since this will alter nutrition | | | | information will be as common on menus as Nutrition |
| information. | | | | Facts labels are on food products today, and that |
| However, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) | | | | leaves restaurateurs two choices: |
| supports menu labeling legislation, but has chosen to | | | | Analyze and post nutrition information for their menu |
| lobby for a national bill that will preempt the growing | | | | items today, or put it off for tomorrow. |
| patchwork of local and state laws regulating menu | | | | |