New menu labeling requirements : academy advocacy expands opportunities / Matthew Fox

In addition to the sweeping changes to health insurance costs and coverage ushered in by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the law mandated a substantial increase in the national availability of nutrition information. Section 4205 of the bill established a requirement for restaurants and fast-food chains with more than 20 locations to list the calorie counts of standard items on menus and menu boards, and to provide more comprehensive nutrition information upon request. This federal mandate superseded various previously enacted state and local regulations and brought uniformity to displays of nutrition information for restaurants and similar establishments. Here, Fox discusses the reasons for new provisions.

Nutrition