On August, 24, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published draft and final guidance documents for restaurants and States on how to interpret and implement the new restaurant menu labeling law. The new law, found in section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, requires all chain restaurants and “similar retail food establishments” with 20 or more locations to provide calorie information for “standard menu items” on menus, and to make other nutritional information available in writing on the premises.
FDA’s final guidance states that the law’s preemption provisions went into effect upon enactment with respect to non-identical state and local provisions, but the concurrently issued draft guidance takes the position that certain major provisions of the law also became effective -- and triggered industry labeling obligations -- when President Obama signed it on March 23, 2010, and provides other tips for compliance.
Although FDA’s position in the draft guidance is arguably contrary to the law, and the Agency has stated that it does not intend to enforce the law at this time, absent a change in position or legal challenge, affected chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments will need to consider implementation prior to the issuance of final regulations. Companies operating 20 or more vending machines are also covered.
States that were hoping to continue enforcing their own menu labeling requirements need to stop, unless those requirements are identical to the federal law.
Now that the draft guidance is out, chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments who thought section 4205 was missing important details have more to chew on, and should consider submitting comments on issues such as:
- Is This A Restaurant or “Similar Retail Food Establishment?” FDA tried to include everyone it could, including “coffee shops, delicatessens, food take out and/or delivery establishments (e.g., pizza take out and delivery establishments), convenience stores, movie theaters, cafeterias, bakeries/retail confectionery stores, food service vendors (e.g., lunch wagons, ice cream shops, mall cookie counters, and sidewalk carts), and transportation carriers (e.g., airlines and trains).” The law also covers “grocery stores [that] have cafes, food courts, or otherwise sell food that is for immediate consumption directly to consumers.” FDA is still mulling over how to regulate grocery stores selling dual-purpose foods (i.e., “that could be consumed immediately or could be purchased as traditional grocery items for future consumption, such as in-store bakeries, salad bars, pizza bars, or delicatessens”).
- There are calories in alcohol? Who knew! Yes, there are calories in alcohol. And according to FDA they have to be printed on the menu or menu board. Margaritaville, take note.
- But she said to hold the mayo? Does she need a new menu? No. Custom orders are not covered. But FDA will be coming up with regulations by springtime to cover what it calls “variable items” like pizzas with toppings chosen from a list.
- Do I need to print calorie information on every menu? It seems that way based on FDA’s interpretation. Although the law says it must be printed on the “primary writing” a customer uses to select an item, FDA has interpreted this to include menu boards, take-out menus, and internet menus. That suggests that, at least in FDA-speak, “primary” means “every.”
- Can I put the calories in the fine print under the coleslaw? FDA wants to see it in big print, right next to the menu item, just like you would list the name of the item and price, and at least as large as whichever is bigger.
- Can I at least omit the trans fat? FDA’s draft would require trans fat to be listed with the additional nutritional information (fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, sugars, fiber and protein) that must be provided in writing upon request.
For more information about this development, click here.
- Trent Norris and Zack Allen
