Should restaurants be required to display nutrition information?

In this morning’s Oregonian, the front page includes an article on a proposal to require chain restaurants to display key nutritional information on their menus and menu boards (”Plan would let diners count calories on menu“). Portland of course is not the first major city to consider the idea publicly, but given the progressive nature of the political scene here, it would not be surprising if the rule was approved.

According to the proposal, this would not affect small businesses. Here is a summary, as quoted from theMultnomah County Health Department’s information site:

PROPOSED POLICY

1. Applies only to major chain restaurants with at least 15 nation-wide outlets.

·Small businesses are exempt to avoid undue financial burden.

·About half large chains already have nutritional analysis done for their menu items.

·Most food prepared in chains is standardized in terms of ingredients, cooking instructions,

and portion sizes.

2. Applies only to standard food items on the menu for at least 60 days.

·To leave ample room for culinary innovation.

·To minimize the need for frequent re-printing of menus.

3. Requires disclosure of calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and

carbohydrates.

·Limited to five nutrition factors to minimize confusion by consumers

4. Point-of-purchase decision-making.

·Nutrition information easily accessible on the menus and menu boards.

·Nutrition information as prominent as pricing information.

5. Disclaimer for nutrient content variation.

·To offer some protection to restaurants.

·To provide lee-way for slight variations in overall serving size or quantity of ingredients.

6. The Health Department will offer technical assistance to restaurants.

[…]

This reminds me of adiscussion we recently had on Iowa Avenue, where a lot of folks had some serious concerns over the idea (42 comments, which may be a record there), while I think it’s fair to say that the majority of readers were in favor of the idea (Iowa Ave. readers, correct me if I’m wrong there - it was just my impression).

According to today’s article, the Oregon Restaurant Association (ORA) is of course lobbying heavily against it. Their reasoning? Giving more information to consumerswill only confuse them.

Regardless of the spin surrounding “healthy options” on menus, this in my opinion is an Orwellian insult to their customers, and I’m amazed that more consumers don’t see it (or maybe we are all just sheep after all, as the ORA suggests). For the record, ORA, I for one am not confused when I see caloric information on the nutrition sheet that you have to ask for at McDonalds (at least, last I checked, years ago). If the staff can find the sheet buried somewhere behind the ketchup boxes, I can read it without going into a information overload seizure.

What’s more, although I’ve been working hard to avoid fast food (see my article here, “20 tactics to kill the fast food habit“), I know that if I were to go into the local Carl’s Jr. and see that the chili-cheese fries had “1410 calories” as the article pointed out - I KNOW it would make me think twice, and likely convince me to make a better choice.Withoutthat information, I might reason, “well how bad can it be?” I would have guessed maybe half that number, and been significantly wrong.

But according to the restaurant lobby, I would be overwhelmed and confused by SO MUCH information.

C’mon.

It should be noted, too, that liability for the information is being completely released from restaurants with this measure (though I am sure a lawyer may be able to find an exception, as is their duty). The county seems to be going the extra mile to relieve restaurants of as much burden as possible, since they are offering to assist with caloric measurement (or so my interpretation of that statement goes).

My opinion is that yes, chains of 15 nationwide restaurants or more should be required to display the information. As long as it does not impact small business, I am all for it.

What do you think? Should chain restaurants of 15 outlets or more be required to display nutritional information, with the help of the county?

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