The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has created new requirements for menu and vending machine labeling. Here are two common consumer questions and FDA's responses.
Where will I see calorie labeling?
Calorie and other nutrition labeling will be required for standard menu items offered for sale in a restaurant or similar retail food establishment that is part of a chain with 20 or more locations, doing business under the same name, and offering for sale substantially the same menu items. A restaurant or similar retail food establishment is generally defined as a retail establishment that offers for sale "restaurant type food," which is generally food that is usually eaten on the premises, while walking away, or soon after arriving at another location. Specific examples of restaurant-type foods covered, when offered by a chain with 20 or more locations, include:
- Meals from sit-down restaurants
- Foods purchased at drive-through windows
- Take-out food, such as pizza
- Foods, such as made-to-order sandwiches, ordered from a menu or menu board at a grocery store or delicatessen
- Foods you serve yourself from a salad or hot food bar at a restaurant or grocery store
- A muffin at a bakery or coffee shop
- Popcorn purchased at a movie theater or amusement park
- A scoop of ice cream, milk shake or sundae from an ice cream store
Foods in covered vending machines also will have to carry calorie labeling that can be viewed before purchase, subject to certain exceptions.
Will I easily find the posted information about calories?
Yes. Calories must be clear and prominent on menus and menu boards and on signs next to self-service foods and foods on display. For calorie declarations on menus and menu boards, the size of the calorie declaration must be no smaller than the size of the name or the price of the menu item it refers to, whichever is smaller. In general such calorie declarations must be in the same color, or a similar color as that used for the name of the associated menu item. The menu labeling rule also provides specific type size, color, and contrast requirements for calorie declarations on signs next to self-service foods and foods on display.
For covered vending machines, the calories must be posted on a sign (e.g., small placard, sticker, poster) close to the article of food or selection button, subject to certain exceptions. The vending machine rule contains certain requirements related to size of type, color, and contrast of the calorie declarations to ensure visibility at the point of purchase.
From FDA.gov