California’s not the first state or municipality to require restaurants to declare their nutritional stats to customers, but as of today, the state will require chains with more than 20 in-state locations to post calories, carbs, sodium and fat information for each menu offering. The new law also bans sales of soda and junk foods to students at public schools–a big step toward reducing empty calories and sodium consumption among children and teens.
Patt Morrison of Pasadena-based public radio station KPCC interviewed the California Restaurant Association’s senior vice president for government affairs and the executive director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
Surprisingly enough, the CRA’s representative said the association actually backs the legislation in its current form. When asked whether similar New York City legislation had had any effect so far, the CCPHA director said it had–chain restaurants had started reformulating popular high-calorie foods back downward. He also gave demographics: 89 percent of Democrats and 78 percent of Republicans polled said they were in favor of the new law. Most of the callers to the show also said they wanted or needed to know what was at the end of their forks. A fascinating interview all the way around.
Filed under: DASH Diet, Eating out, Food Politics, kid food, nutrition | Tagged: California, chain restaurants, David Kessler, dietary information, Henry Waxman, nutrition labeling, Nutrition Labeling Education Act, Patt Morrison, public health, restaurants | Comments Off on Naked Lunch: Nutrition labeling law in effect for California Chain Restaurants
Slow Food Fast 