SACRAMENTO, Calif. — By a vote of 42 to 31, the California Assembly passed Senate Bill 120, statewide legislation requiring fast-food outlets and chain restaurants to provide nutrition information at the point of purchase.
"The Assembly vote confirms that 35 million Californians have a right to know what they are eating before they order it," said Dr. Harold Goldstein of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, a sponsor of the legislation.
When signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, SB 120 will make California the first state to require chain restaurants and fast-food outlets to provide nutritional information for standard menu items. Specifically, the bill requires the number of calories to be posted on menu boards. Printed menus also would provide the amount of calories, grams of saturated fat, trans fats, sodium and carbohydrates.
Earlier this year, New York City and Washington State's King County mandated similar menu labeling requirements. California's SB 120, however, marks the first time that a state legislature has passed this policy.
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