Chain restaurants ready for federal nutrition labeling standards

From the NRA this morning. Better to have one standard to comply with than a crazy patchwork quilt of state regs, no doubt....

A new coalition announced today that it will support federal legislation that provides consumers with detailed nutrition information in chain restaurants and other foodservice establishments using a uniform national standard. Legislation has been introduced by Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congressman Jim Matheson (D-Utah), which provides consumers across the country with nutrition information in a uniform, predictable way.

The Coalition for Responsible Nutrition Information (CRNI) was formed to ensure that consumers across the country will have access to detailed nutrition information when they dine out. Americans are becoming more health conscious and have a growing interest in the nutritional value of the food they eat. The Coalition (www.nationalnutritionstandards.com) is launching with more than thirty companies and associations that represent restaurant owners and franchisees, food manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, business organizations and health organizations.

“We believe consumers who visit chain restaurants should have access to detailed written nutrition information in a consistent and convenient manner. The only way to make sure this happens is by creating a uniform, national standard,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “When different rules exist in various parts of the country, it makes it difficult for consumers to compare options. Consumers deserve a federal standard that provides access to the same nutrition information no matter where they are or where they live.”

“Consumers are increasingly looking for a variety of nutrition information to be available for their use in restaurants. The Coalition for Responsible Nutrition Information is working to create a nationwide standard that provides a significant amount of nutrition information in a manner that is efficient and effective for the wide variety of restaurants and dining occasions enjoyed by our guests,” said Joe Taylor, Vice President of Communication & Public Affairs for Brinker International.

Consumers understand that calories are only part of the information necessary to make smart food choices. The new coalition wants to provide consumers with a broad range of nutrition information including sodium, trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, sugars and protein as well as calories to help them make appropriate decisions when eating at restaurants.

In fact, 79 percent of registered voters favor a law that would require restaurants to provide detailed nutrition information in writing, according to a recent national poll conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

“The majority of Americans, based on our findings, favor requiring restaurants to provide detailed nutrition information in writing, but not necessarily on the menu, as it seems to fulfill their desire to have access to nutrition information without intruding on their individual choice,” said Jay Campbell, Vice President of Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

Increasingly, restaurants are offering detailed information in convenient formats – including brochures, posters, in-store computer kiosks and Web sites. The approach should help consumers make smart food choices with comprehensive information like that found on packaged goods and groceries. Information would be available in writing in the restaurant - which is what customers want - and the Coalition for Responsible Nutrition Information is working with chain foodservice establishments and restaurants across the country to provide.

Recently, several cities, including New York and Seattle, passed menu labeling laws requiring restaurants to provide consumers with calories or a limited range of nutrition information. This approach will not provide all consumers with all of the detailed nutrition information they may want when they dine out. In addition, providing limited nutrition information on a city-by-city or state-by-state basis creates a patchwork quilt of confusing and contradictory local regulations.

For example, New York City requires just caloric information while Seattle requires calories, sodium, saturated fat and carbohydrates be listed on their menu. A uniform national nutrition standard, such as the one that has been proposed in the Carper-Murkowski and Matheson bills, would offer all consumers consistent detailed nutrition information in writing in chain restaurants and other foodservice establishments that goes beyond just calories.

In addition to numerous state restaurant associations and state retail associations, Coalition members include Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Brinker International, Burger King, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Darden Restaurants, Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Brands, Grocery Manufacturers Association, International Dairy Queen, International Foodservice Distributors Association, International Franchise Association, McDonald’s, National Chicken Council, National Council of Chain Restaurants, National Fisheries Institute, National Franchisee Association, National Restaurant Association, National Turkey Foundation, OSI Restaurants LLC., Sonic, and White Castle.

The Coalition for Responsible Nutrition information is a broad based coalition of restaurants, industry organizations and companies that believe a uniform national nutrition standard for chain food service establishments will give consumers access to detailed nutrition information that meets their needs. For more information, visit our Web site at www.nationalnutritionstandards.com.