New Menu and Vending Machines Labeling Requirements

AmerTunsi

New Menu and Vending Machines Labeling Requirements

Vending MachineOn March 23, 2010, the President signed the health care reform legislation into law. Section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on restaurant menus and menu boards, including drive-through menu boards. Other nutrient information – total calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein – would have to be made available in writing upon request. The Act also requires vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines to disclose calorie content for certain items.

The FDA has issued a Federal Register notice that explains how restaurants and similar retail food establishments with fewer than 20 locations and vending machine operators with fewer than 20 vending machines can voluntarily register to become subject to new federal menu labeling requirements. Anyone needing assistance with filling out this form call 240-402-2371.

fredd500

We so need this in the UK and there shouldn't be any reason for the big companies to do this - but they won't simply because they don't want to put people off. Sure, most of the big boys do nutrition info either on a leaflet or a website, but slap bang in front of you on the menu at the point of ordering would certainly help reduce obesity in this country.

agleckle

This is good in theory, but it doesn't necessarily make people make good choices. In studies where parents take their children out to fast food with the nutritional information available vs not available, they made better choices for their children when it was available compared to not available, but statistically speaking, they didn't make any better of a choice for themselves when the information was available vs. not available. I guess it is good that they made a better choice for their kids, but they need to be an example of good health to help the kids too.

I wish I could remember which documentary I was watching that I got this information from, but I dont. I just remember being stunned when I heard this information.

Fat_2_Fit_Mommy

I think this would be a good thing to do. It might actually help with obesity in the US since were the #1 fat country.

SueInAz

They already do this in California. I loved being able to see the calories in their coffee drinks during the stop I made there a few months ago. It made my decision much easier.

AmerTunsi

This is good in theory, but it doesn't necessarily make people make good choices. In studies where parents take their children out to fast food with the nutritional information available vs not available, they made better choices for their children when it was available compared to not available, but statistically speaking, they didn't make any better of a choice for themselves when the information was available vs. not available. I guess it is good that they made a better choice for their kids, but they need to be an example of good health to help the kids too.

I wish I could remember which documentary I was watching that I got this information from, but I dont. I just remember being stunned when I heard this information.

Well, if nothing else this will eliminate the excuse of " I didn't know it was THAT bad." Also, food can be very deceptive and in a country where burgers can be upwards of 2,000 calories ... it's good to know, and have it in your face when ordering ... then you only have yourself to blame for the poor choices and can't use the excuse you didn't know. Education yourself is key.

Also, this will help restaurants use better ingredients and use less filers and cheaper quality ingredients. Right now they can make the food with whatever they want and know the consumers aren't totally aware of what is in the food. They will not want to scare their consumers off and I hope they will make better choices.

Finally, there is the economic disparity to consider. Often families choose to buy what is the most economical even if it is unhealthy. The reality is that healthy food is a luxury these days. So, during financial hard times ... you have a choice of buying your children items off the dollar menu, that the kids will like the taste, fill them up, easy on the wallet, not to mention easier and faster. .The other choice is to try to buy healthy foods that are more expensive and you have to buy more of to be filling. You can buy a pear for $1 but is that a meal? The cost of food is going out of this world, milk is now $4 and eggs are more than $2!

Awkward30

Washington also does this already. I make better choices for myself when I have all the information

fionat29

I would really love for this to be happening! John and I are hoping to go out to Florida this winter and we would really like to be able to make informed choices. The thing I always find difficult about holidays in the US is that eating out never involves vegetables, unless you count fries. Lol!

PlunderBunneh

I usually look up nutritional information before I go anyway. Nice that it will be easier on me once this goes into effect.
However, it's going to make it harder for those Eff it nights, where you get what you realllly want and don't bother with nutritional stuff. Goodbye boneless hot wings. I know too much about you now, it's awkward.

agleckle

This is good in theory, but it doesn't necessarily make people make good choices. In studies where parents take their children out to fast food with the nutritional information available vs not available, they made better choices for their children when it was available compared to not available, but statistically speaking, they didn't make any better of a choice for themselves when the information was available vs. not available. I guess it is good that they made a better choice for their kids, but they need to be an example of good health to help the kids too.

I wish I could remember which documentary I was watching that I got this information from, but I dont. I just remember being stunned when I heard this information.

Well, if nothing else this will eliminate the excuse of " I didn't know it was THAT bad." Also, food can be very deceptive and in a country where burgers can be upwards of 2,000 calories ... it's good to know, and have it in your face when ordering ... then you only have yourself to blame for the poor choices and can't use the excuse you didn't know. Education yourself is key.

Also, this will help restaurants use better ingredients and use less filers and cheaper quality ingredients. Right now they can make the food with whatever they want and know the consumers aren't totally aware of what is in the food. They will not want to scare their consumers off and I hope they will make better choices.

Finally, there is the economic disparity to consider. Often families choose to buy what is the most economical even if it is unhealthy. The reality is that healthy food is a luxury these days. So, during financial hard times ... you have a choice of buying your children items off the dollar menu, that the kids will like the taste, fill them up, easy on the wallet, not to mention easier and faster. .The other choice is to try to buy healthy foods that are more expensive and you have to buy more of to be filling. You can buy a pear for $1 but is that a meal? The cost of food is going out of this world, milk is now $4 and eggs are more than $2!

I wasn't trying to knock it or say it was a bad idea. I think it is a great idea... and I agree that education is key so that people wont have the "I didnt know" excuse. My point was merely that I think it is sad that in the studies they have done, adults still wont make a healthier choice for themselves when the information is there.

However, I do slightly disagree with the whole "healthier food is more expensive" claim that people make. Yes, eggs are more than $2 and milk is more than $4... however, how much is a box of sugary name brand cereal? Also $4-ish. Making a meal off of the dollar menu will cost you $3-$4... and you get one meal. You get more than one meal from a carton of $2 eggs paired with some veggies that may cost a few dollars... definitely cheaper to get a couple meals out of $6-$7 of healthy food than one meal from the $3-$4 you spent on the dollar menu. This is just my opinion though, I guess.

RedheadHen

I love this!!! I do look up information before going out to eat. If I know where I'm eating ahead of time! I have been known to look up stuff on my droid at restaurants too!! LOL! I think *for me* it would make decisions so much easier.

As far as healthy food being more pricey ... I think all food is getting pricey. I mean ... I hate grocery shopping these days! That said, I KNOW I can get a ground beef that is higher in fat content CHEAPER than the same weight in a lean ground beef. Sucks. Totally sucks. Fresh veggies are not horrible if you are buying in season things or go to farmer markets! All cereals are horribly priced! Oh and don't even get me started on bread! My healthy, low fat, whole grain bread is about $2.50 more than the store brand white bread! Horrible! I'm trying to feed a family of 4 and yeah ... we get 3 different loaves of bread a week! That's probably about $9 in just silly bread!! >.< But the price of organic is ugly! Just ugly. I can say this ... families in this economy are gonna look for the cheapest option and unfortunately that tends to be the lesser quality foods.

AmerTunsi

I love this!!! I do look up information before going out to eat. If I know where I'm eating ahead of time! I have been known to look up stuff on my droid at restaurants too!! LOL! I think *for me* it would make decisions so much easier.

As far as healthy food being more pricey ... I think all food is getting pricey. I mean ... I hate grocery shopping these days! That said, I KNOW I can get a ground beef that is higher in fat content CHEAPER than the same weight in a lean ground beef. Sucks. Totally sucks. Fresh veggies are not horrible if you are buying in season things or go to farmer markets! All cereals are horribly priced! Oh and don't even get me started on bread! My healthy, low fat, whole grain bread is about $2.50 more than the store brand white bread! Horrible! I'm trying to feed a family of 4 and yeah ... we get 3 different loaves of bread a week! That's probably about $9 in just silly bread!! >.< But the price of organic is ugly! Just ugly. I can say this ... families in this economy are gonna look for the cheapest option and unfortunately that tends to be the lesser quality foods.

Well said, that is kinda what I was getting at with it being more pricey. If I want to buy thins organic, it is much more expensive than other options; once upon a time "organic" was the standard! It's cheaper to buy frozen vegetables, than fresh ones, If I want to buy a healthy snack like nuts, you are going to be paying a chunk of change. Not to mention that our bodies process and burn these foods much faster than the other foods, thus the need to have meals more frequent. The meat is another great example, and better cuts are much higher in price. Also, if you are someone who cares about how the animals are raised, and what they are feed ... again it costs more. Drives me nuts!