Photo Courtesy of NYC Health + Hospitals
Starting this past Monday, the City began enforcing the updated calorie labeling rules.
By Forum Staff
All City chain food retailers offering prepared foods, or “restaurant-type foods,” are now required to post calorie counts on menu boards, Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced.
Additionally, according to the administration, chain restaurants and retailers will be required to have full nutritional information – not just calories – for standard menu items available on site, and they will have to post a statement about the daily recommended caloric intake of 2,000 calories. This rule is required for all chain restaurants with 15 locations or more nationwide, affecting approximately 3,000 restaurants and about 1,500 food retailer chains.
“We are all tempted to make unhealthy choices, but with these new, common-sense rules, New Yorkers will have the information to make better choices and lead healthier lives,” de Blasio said. “We can no longer wait for federal action, and urge other cities to follow our lead.”
Starting this past Monday, May 22, the departments of Health and Consumer Affairs began enforcing the updated calorie labeling rules by educating businesses during regular inspections. On Aug. 21, both agencies will begin issuing notices of violation subject to fines for not following the updated rule. Chain restaurants and food retailers that are not in compliance will be subject to fines ranging from $200 to $600.
According to the City, residents and visitors can look forward to several improvements in chain convenience stores, grocery stores and restaurants as a result of the updated calorie labeling rule, including:
Calorie information about prepared foods sold in chain convenience stores and grocery stores.
A new statement on menus and menu boards at all chain restaurants, chain convenience stores and grocery stores to give more information about calorie needs. The statement reads: “2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary.”
Additional nutrition information about menu items available onsite upon request, including total calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugar, and protein.
The administration noted that in 2008, NYC led the nation by becoming the first jurisdiction to require calorie labeling in chain restaurants. Many cities, counties and states followed suit, and in 2010 calorie labeling requirements became a part of the federal Affordable Care Act.
In 2015, the City updated its longstanding Health Code rule requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information for menu items, but delayed enforcement in anticipation of an identical federal rule that would make calorie information available in chain restaurants and chain food retailers nationwide. Earlier this month, the federal government announced it would delay enforcement of these rules for a year; the City has decided to enforce its updated calorie labeling rules as planned.
“Calorie labeling makes it easier for New Yorkers to learn more about the food they are consuming,” said City Health Commissioner Mary Bassett, M.D. “New York City led the way on requiring calorie labeling in chain restaurants nearly 10 years ago, and we are proud to continue this work by ensuring New Yorkers can access this important information at other types of establishments.”
