Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Benefits of Menu Labeling

   I am hopeful that today's Supreme Court decision will help to move the National Menu and Vending Label Laws forward.  You may recall that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates, at the very least, calorie disclosure at the point of purchase.
    Many cities, states and restaurant chains have already begun to provide this information.  It is exciting to me because the policy can change the food environment.
   People will always get to choose what they purchase and eat, but those choices depend on money, time, convenience (what is available where you are), and selection.  Early findings show that restaurants and vending machine owners increase the number of healthy options when forced to disclose calorie content.  By healthy  I mean, lower in saturated fat and added sugar as well as energy density.  This is a good thing.

 

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