Harkin, DeLauro Propose Federal Menu Labeling Laws

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) have introduced companion bills (S. 1048 and H.R. 2426) that would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act “to extend the food labeling requirements of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990” to standard menu items offered at large chain restaurants.

Known as the MEAL Act, the bills would require restaurants with “20 or more locations doing business under the same name” to display “in a prominent location on the menu” the amount of calories, saturated fats, trans fats, carbohydrates, and sodium contained in each menu item. The legislation asserts that “the provision of nutrition information for away-from-home foods has a positive influence on food purchase decisions,” thus enabling consumers to “manage their weight and reduce the risk of, or manage, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, which are the leading causes of death, disability, and high health care costs.” According to DeLauro, her proposed legislation would represent “an incremental step toward combating increasing obesity rates.”

Meanwhile, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has lauded the federal effort as an extension of similar measures passed in New York City, California, Massachusetts, and other jurisdictions. “Consumers play an impossible guessing game trying to make healthier choices in restaurant,” stated CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan. “Who would guess that a large chocolate shake at McDonald’s has more calories than two Big Macs or that a multigrain bagel at Dunkin’ Donuts has 140 calories more than a jelly donut?” See CSPI Press Release, May 14, 2009; Law360, May 15, 2009.