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Bill to force pizza chains, other QSRs to post nutritional info introduced in D.C.

November 5, 2003

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WASHINGTON, D.C.--A bill introduced on Nov. 5 would force chain restaurants to display detailed nutritional information on all standard menu items.

According to Reuters, Connecticut Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro introduced the Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) bill, in the House. Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin plans to introduce a similar measure in the Senate.

The bill applies restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets, which includes dozens of pizza chains.

"Obesity is one of our nation's most pressing health issues," DeLauro told reporters gathered at a news conference. "This bill ... will give consumers the necessary nutritional information to make healthy choices for themselves."

According to the report, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.

The foodservice industry has argued that legislators, and lawyers suing the industry in obesity-related cases, have ignored the role that Americans' increasingly sedentary lifestyles play in their obesity.

Margo Wootan, from the watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest, said a new poll done by her organization shows two-thirds of restaurant customers want restaurants to provide detailed nutritional information.

According to Reuters, the CSPI telephone survey of 600 adults showed 67 percent support the idea of requiring fast-food restaurants to display the calorie content of their foods on menus and menu boards.

"This legislation wouldn't affect restaurants with fewer than 20 outlets, so mom and pop diners and fancy gourmet restaurants would not be required to test or label anything," Wootan said. "I think this bill will pass. It'll just be a matter of how many years it will take to pass it."

In response to the MEAL bill's introduction, the National Restaurant Association issued a release calling the measure unnecessary.

"If the aim is to effectively address the complex issue of obesity in America, this legislation mandating nutrition labeling for restaurant menus clearly misses the target," the release said. "Seventy-six percent of meals continue to be eaten at home, but when Americans do dine out ... they find a wide variety of venues, menu items, and portion sizes--meeting customers' demands for choice, value and flexibility, as well as their tastes and dietary needs.

"Labeling is not a panacea. We believe more education is needed to ensure Americans understand the information currently available on food labels and apply that information to obtain a healthy, balanced diet designed specifically for their body type and activity level."

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