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Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements
April 2008
Additional
copies are available from:
Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements
HFS-800
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740
(Tel) 301-436-2373
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/guidance.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
April 2008
This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. If you want to discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff responsible for implementing this guidance. If you cannot identify the appropriate FDA staff, call the appropriate telephone number listed on the title page of this guidance.
"A Labeling Guide for Restaurants and Other Retail Establishments Selling Away-From-Home Foods" is intended to be guidance to facilitate compliance with the new regulations. It does not bind the agency, nor does it create or confer any rights, privileges, or benefits for or on any person. While "A Labeling Guide for Restaurants and Other Retail Establishments Selling Away-From-Home Foods" represents the best advice of FDA, it does not have the force and effect of law. The interpretations presented herein are obviously subject to the requirements of law both in the statute and in the regulations.
The FDA will continue to update and issue additional editions of guidance as resources permit. Questions will be collected by FDA from correspondence and other inquiries that it receives. FDA will also consider specific submissions of questions for inclusion in future editions of this guidance. Questions concerning the interpretation of the requirements of the food labeling regulations should be submitted to the Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements (HFS-800), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Ave., College Park, MD 20740.
FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (the NLEA) and the final regulations to implement the NLEA (January 6, 1993), provide for a number of fundamental changes in how food is labeled, including requiring that nutrition labeling be placed on most foods, requiring that terms that characterize the level of nutrients in a food be used in accordance with definitions established by FDA, and providing for the use of claims about the relationship between nutrients and diseases or health-related conditions. These changes apply to virtually all foods in the food supply, including, in large measure, to foods sold in restaurants.
Following publication of the January 6, 1993, final rules, FDA issued technical amendments that correct unintended technical effects contained in several of the various rules in the Federal Register of August 18, 1993 (58 FR 44020). Nonetheless, a large number of questions were raised by industry, consumers, and others concerning the interpretation of these various final rules. Consequently, the former Office of Food Labeling (OFL)/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)/FDA developed the "Food Labeling, Questions and Answers" (August 1993, Updated June 2007) as an efficient way to provide answers to some of the more common questions that had been raised concerning the food labeling regulations. The agency also issued "Food Labeling: Questions and Answers, Volume II; A Guide for Restaurants and Other Retail Establishments" as part of a continuing effort to respond to concerns. This Guide is updated in this document, and responds to questions raised since publication of the first guide, including questions related to the labeling of foods sold in restaurants.
Answer: No. FDA is not requiring full nutrition labeling for restaurant foods, nor is it requiring that nutrition information be presented in the Nutrition Facts format. Because restaurant foods tend to be prepared or sold differently from foods from other sources, FDA has amended 21 CFR 101.10 to provide a number of flexibilities for restaurants in how they determine the nutrient content of a food (e.g., using data base analysis or other reliable sources of nutrient information) and in how this information may be presented to consumers (e.g., in various formats and by reasonable means, such as in a flier or notebook) January 6, 1993, 58 FR 2302 at 2410 (available in PDF, 22.87 MB).
Answer: Section 101.10 was established to provide flexibility to restaurants and similar establishments when it is the restaurateur who is responsible for determining nutrient content or providing nutrition labeling for foods that are served or sold in such establishments. The nutrition labeling provisions in 21 CFR 101.10, and discussed herein, also extend to the restaurant-type foods described in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3) provided they meet the requirements of that section (i.e., they are: similar to foods served in restaurants, ready-to-eat, not for immediate consumption, and prepared or processed primarily at the retail location from which they are sold).
Answer: No. 21 CFR 101.10 was established to provide flexibility to restaurants and similar establishments when it is the restaurateur, not a manufacturer, who is responsible for determining nutrient content or providing nutrition labeling for food sold in such establishments. Consistent with the agency's treatment of commercially packaged fresh fish and nuts (See Food Labeling Guidance), when a manufacturer or packer labels a packaged food, including foods sold only in restaurants, the nutrition information must be presented according to the requirements in 21 CFR 101.9 (Nutrition Facts) and would be judged by the compliance criteria of that section.
The exception would be foods sold for use in restaurants but not served to consumers in the package in which they are received (e.g., large, institutional size containers) (21 CFR 101.9). Because such foods are exempt from nutrition labeling requirements, even if they bear a claim, voluntary nutrition labeling may be presented for these foods by any reasonable means, including those provided for in 21 CFR 101.10.
Answer: No. Section 101.10 requires that nutrition information be available upon request. It may appear on the same or different labeling from that which bears the claim. It may be presented in various forms, including those specified in 21 CFR 101.45 (e.g., displayed at point of purchase by an appropriate means, such as affixing it to the food, by posting a sign, or by making the information readily available in a brochure, notebook, or leaflet, in close proximity to the foods), Nutrition Facts (21 CFR 101.9), and by other reasonable means (21 CFR 101.10).
Answer: Foods that are served or sold in restaurants and similar establishments may bear nutrition information according to 21 CFR 101.10, even if the food is sold in packaged form and a claim or other nutrition information appears on the package label provided the food is labeled by the restaurateur.
Answer: Many restaurant-type foods (i.e., ready-to-eat but not for immediate consumption) that are prepared at the same retail location from which they are sold have similar needs for flexible nutrition labeling as foods served or sold by restaurants (e.g., the foods are generally hand assembled and, therefore, subject to individual product variations). Thus, the general provisions of 21 CFR 101.10 discussed in this section are available to restaurant-type foods that meet the criteria set out in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3). For example, if a grocer prepares and sells a "low fat" potato salad in-house, nutrition labeling must, at a minimum, provide information on the fat content of the food. This information would be available to the grocer from his/her reasonable basis determination that the food meets FDA's definition for the claim. Nutrition information for a restaurant-type food that bears a claim must be available to consumers upon request and may be presented by reasonable means (e.g., in a brochure or posted at point of purchase).
Answer: Nutrition information for restaurant and restaurant-type foods may be provided by any reasonable means, including orally. A statement from a waiter, for example, that a "low fat" meal contains less than 10 grams of fat will serve as the functional equivalent of full nutrition labeling. In such a case, however, the restaurant should also have nutrition information in writing, as a back-up, to ensure that the information communicated by the staff is valid.
Answer: Nutrition information must be provided on the basis of the food as packaged or purchased by the consumer (21 CFR 101.9(b)(9)). Thus, nutrition labeling of a ready-to-eat food served in a restaurant or similar establishment would be based on the nutrient content of a single serving of the finished product as it is marketed for purchase by consumers.
Answer: At a minimum, restaurants must provide information on the nutrient that is the basis for the claim (e.g., "low fat, this meal contains 10 grams of fat").
Answer: Nutrients that are the basis for a claim include all nutrients that are relevant in determining whether a food meets the definition for a claim. For example, fat claims are based on the fat content of a food. Thus, nutrition information for a "low fat" food must include information on the level of fat in the food bearing the claim. Cholesterol claims are based on the cholesterol content of the food and are allowed only when a food contains 2 grams or less saturated fat per RACC (2 grams or less saturated fat per 100 grams of food for meals and main dish products). Thus, nutrition information for a food bearing a cholesterol claim must include information on both the cholesterol and the saturated fat content of the food. Health claims include both the general health claims requirements (i.e., that disqualifying levels not be exceeded) and the nutrient requirements for the specific claim (see question 43). This information (e.g., information about the level of the nutrients that are the basis for the claim) should be readily available to a restaurant from its determination that the food conforms to the definition of a claim. (Definitions for nutrient content claims and requirements for health claims are summarized in Appendices B, C, and D of the Food Labeling Guide.)
Answer: Yes. While the provision of information on nutrients that are the basis for a claim is the minimum requirement for nutrition labeling of restaurant foods, FDA encourages restaurants to provide consumers with as much information on the nutrient content of the food as possible.
Answer: Generally, the restaurateur may provide voluntary nutrition information according to the options available to foods that bear a claim (i.e., 21 CFR 101.9 (Nutrition Facts), 21 CFR 101.45 (voluntary program for raw fruits, vegetables, and fish), or 21 CFR 101.10 (reasonable means)). For example, a restaurateur may choose to provide nutrient content information in a statement such as "Garden salad with grilled chicken, contains 390 calories, 8 g fat, and 13 mg cholesterol." Because nutrition labeling requirements are triggered by a nutrient content claim, health claim, or other nutrient content information, the food would no longer be exempt from nutrition labeling. However, this information can itself serve as the functional equivalent of nutrition labeling, and no additional labeling would be required.
Answer: No. Once a food bears a claim, nutrition information must be readily accessible to consumers (e.g., on the label attached to the food or in labeling at point of purchase). Vending machine foods that are sold in packaged form should have required labeling on the product visible to the consumer prior to purchase or be otherwise displayed at point of purchase. With respect to foods prepared or processed by the vending machine (e.g., soup dispensed into a cup), the mandatory information may be displayed on the vending machines.
Answer: Not necessarily. Nutrition information may be presented in a variety of formats. However, the agency considers % Daily Values to be very important information and encourages such a declaration whenever practicable. If a restaurant chooses to use the Nutrition Facts format, labeling must contain all information, including % Daily Values, required for the chosen format.
Answer: No. As stated in response to question 1, a restaurant may choose to present nutrition information in a variety of formats. FDA would not object to a restaurant food bearing nutrition information according to the different Nutrition Facts formats set out in 21 CFR 101.9 (e.g., the simplified format, the shortened format, an aggregate display, or a linear display) so long as labeling contains all required elements of the chosen format and it meets the requirements of 21 CFR 101.10 (i.e., it includes information on the nutrient that is the basis for the claim).
Answer: It depends on the format used. Nutrition labeling for restaurant foods may be presented in various formats, including Nutrition Facts (21 CFR 101.9), following the format established for raw fruit, vegetables, and fish (21 CFR 101.45), and by other reasonable means (e.g., a statement such as "low fat, this food contains no more than 3 grams of fat" in a brochure or notebook) (21 CFR 101.10).
Consistent with its flexible approach towards restaurant food labeling, FDA has not established standardized type size or placement requirements in 21 CFR 101.10. Labeling that is easily accessible to consumers, that contains all required nutrition information, and that is presented clearly and legibly, would be generally consistent with the "reasonable means" provision of 21 CFR 101.10.
Answer: Yes. However, labeling that declares nutrient values in a way that implies an unwarranted degree of accuracy could be misleading. To avoid the impression of unwarranted accuracy, as well as to make nutrition labeling easier for consumers to review and understand, restaurants are strongly encouraged to follow the rounding rules set out in 21 CFR 101.9 (see Appendix H of the Food Labeling Guide). To be consistent with these rules, the above values should be declared as 280 calories, 460 mg sodium, 39 g protein, and 6 g fat.
Answer: If, in response to a special request, the airline provides a special meal and represents that the food or meal is, for example, "low sodium," "reduced sodium," or "low in fat," the airline is making a nutrient content claim for the food, and the food must meet the definition for the claim. Nutrition information must be provided for the nutrient amounts that are the basis for the claim (e.g., "low fat, this meal contains 10 grams of fat") and may be provided by reasonable means (e.g., on the back of a card wrapped with the meal identifying the meal as a special request or in a binder available from the flight attendants).
Answer: FDA encourages restaurants to provide as much nutrition information as possible to consumers. However, the NLEA exempts restaurant foods from the referral and disclosure statements that must appear on the principal display panel of a packaged food if the food bears a claim and it contains a nutrient (i.e., fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, or sodium) at a level greater than the disclosure levels set out in 21 CFR 101.13(h). Further, FDA's regulations provide that, in a restaurant situation, information on the nutrients that are the basis for the claim may serve as the functional equivalent of full nutrition labeling. Thus, in the above example, information about the fat content of the food bearing a "low fat" claim would serve as the functional equivalent of full nutrition labeling.
Answer: As stated in response to question 8, nutrition information must be presented for a food based on the form in which the food is served or sold to consumers. The restaurant may, however, voluntarily provide a second set of information based on an optional method of preparation or serving, e.g., the chicken breast with skin removed.
If a claim is made for a food, and the food or meal only meets the definition of the claim based on an optional method of preparation (e.g., if the food may be prepared, on request, with half the oil normally used), this fact must be clearly communicated to consumers.
Answer: Even if it is not the restaurant that portions a food, the restaurant may still have a logical frame of reference for serving size. For example, if a restaurant provides patrons with containers or serving utensils that have a given capacity (e.g., soup bowls, salad dressing ladles) and if it is reasonable to expect that consumers may fill the containers to capacity, the restaurant should base nutrient content information on of the amount of food the container could hold. However, if a food bears a claim, it must meet the definition for the claim based on its RACC, regardless of labeled serving size (see question 79).
Nutrient content information for discrete items available at a self-service salad bar (e.g., muffins, whole fruit, or slices of bread) should be declared on the basis of the number of unit items that is closest to the RACC for the food (21 CFR 101.19(b)(2)(ii)).
Answer: It depends. FDA encourages restaurants to provide as much nutrition related information as possible, including information on serving size. However, consistent with the agency's flexible approach to nutrition labeling on restaurant foods, FDA will accept labeling that provides nutrition information for a single serving of a food or meal that does not specifically state serving size provided omission of this information does not result in labeling that is false or misleading. For example, if a menu lists the items available in a restaurant followed by a description of the food or meal and information on the fat and calorie content of the food, consumers could reasonably expect that the nutrient content information is declared on a per serving basis, and they will be able to relate this information to the quantity of food they are served.
On the other hand, there may be situations in a restaurant where consumers would not have an appropriate frame of reference for nutrition information unless the serving size used as a basis for the information is specified, for example, when a food is available in more than one serving size (e.g., soup sold by the cup and by the bowl) or when serving size varies (e.g., items from a self-service soup and salad bar where the consumer controls portion size). Furthermore, if nutrition labeling is presented in a format that has requirements for declaring serving size (e.g., Nutrition Facts), nutrition labeling must contain all required elements of the chosen format.
Answer: Generally, nutrition information should be presented on a per serving basis. Nutrition information on a per unit basis could be appropriate when a single unit may also be a single serving. However, the basis for the information must be clearly communicated to consumers.
It is especially important that the basis be declared when a food is available in more than one size serving (e.g., pizza that is available whole and by the slice), or soup that is available by the cup or by the bowl. The restaurant may provide additional information, such as "8 slices per medium 16-inch pizza, 1 slice contains..." to help consumers put nutrition information in context.
Conversely, it would be misleading to present the information on a per item basis when a serving generally contains more than one item of the food, for example, if a single serving of cookies contains more than one cookie.
Answer: If a unit weighs 200 percent or more of the RACC set out in 21 CFR 101.12(b), it may be labeled as a single serving provided it is reasonable to expect that the food would be consumed in a single sitting. For more information on RACCs, see chapter 7 in the Food Labeling Guidelines.
Answer: No. The above compliance criteria (21 CFR 101.9(g)) were established to account for natural variations in the nutrient content of commercially manufactured and packaged foods that are subject to chemical analysis to determine compliance. These criteria ensure that values declared in the Nutrition Facts panel for nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are not over-declared, and that nutrients such as calories and fat are not under-declared, compared to actual amounts that are determined by chemical analyses. The standard that restaurant foods must meet is that a restaurateur has a "reasonable basis" for believing a claim or other nutrition information is valid. Thus, FDA will not subject restaurant foods to chemical analysis to determine whether nutrient levels are properly declared. Rather, FDA will be assessing whether the restaurant's basis for a claim or other nutrition information is, or is not, reasonable. For example, if a restaurant claims a meal is "low fat," FDA would look at the recipe, calculations, and any other information used by the restaurant in determining whether the meal meets the definition of "low fat" (i.e., that it contains no more than 3 g fat per 100 g of food).
Answer: Nutrition information for different components of a food or meal can be presented separately when the components are served separately (e.g., for a sauce or dressing served on the side), or where the components are separate entities (e.g., a steak, baked potato, and green vegetable) even if the components are served together. It could be misleading, however, to present nutrition information separately for mixed components where the consumer could not reasonably be expected to separate them (e.g., if the dressing is served on the salad).
Answer: A nutrient content claim is a statement about a food product that directly, or by implication, characterizes the level of a nutrient in the food (21 CFR 101.13(b)). Thus, nutrient content claims include direct statements about the level (or range) of a nutrient in a food (e.g., "low sodium," "reduced fat," or "contains 100 calories"). An implied nutrient content claim is any claim that: (1) describes the food, or an ingredient in the food, in a manner that suggests that a nutrient is absent or present in a certain amount (e.g., "no tropical oils") or (2) suggests that the food, because of its nutrient content, may be useful in maintaining healthy dietary practices when the claim is made in conjunction with an explicit nutrient content claim (e.g., "healthy, contains 3 grams of fat").
Answer: It depends on the context in which the term is used. When a term such as "Wholesome" or "Nutritious" is used in a context that does not render it an implied claim (e.g., "Nutritious foods, prepared fresh daily" or "Made with wholesome ingredients"), it is not subject to the claims requirements. On the other hand, FDA may consider the term to be used in a nutritional context if it appears in association with an explicit or implicit claim or statement about a nutrient. In statements such as "Nutritious, contains 3 grams of fiber," "Best choice, contains 200 mg sodium," or "Good for you, contains 5 grams of fat," the terms are implied nutrient content claims and the foods bearing the claims must meet the requirements for a claim defined by FDA for the nutrient that is the subject of the claim (21 CFR 101.65(d)(1)). For example, a food bearing the claim "Good for You, contains 5 grams of fat," would have to meet the requirements for one of the fat claims, defined in 21 CFR 101.62 (e.g., "low fat") if it is to not misbrand the food.
Answer: Statements about the amount or percentage of a nutrient in a food (e.g., "10% protein" or "less than 3 grams of fat per serving") may be made without further qualification if the food meets the definition for a claim (i.e., if the food is "low" in, "reduced," or a "good source" of the subject nutrient (21 CFR 101.13(i) and 21 CFR 101.62(b)(6)). If the nutrient content of a food is not consistent with the definition of a claim, the food may still bear such a statement characterizing the level of a nutrient provided the statement is followed by a disclaimer, e.g., "Only 200 mg sodium, not a low sodium food." If the statement does not in any way qualify the level of a nutrient (e.g., "100 calories" or "5 grams of fat"), a disclaimer is not required.
Answer: No. As stated in response to the preceding question, phrases such as "less than (X amount of nutrient)" are implied claims and can only be used for a food that meets the definition of a claim. Statements such as "contains less than 10 grams of fat" can be used in situations where, according to a restaurateur's reasonable basis determination, a food or meal meets the criteria for a claim (e.g., "low fat") but where he/she may not know the exact amount of the nutrient present. When a restaurateur is presenting nutrition information for a food that does not meet the definition for a claim, and the nutrient values determined using a reasonable basis include some variability (e.g., due to hand assembly of food items), he/she may wish to say "approximately" to indicate that the nutrient values may not be precise.
Furthermore, depending on the context in which it is used, the term "contains" may itself be a nutrient content claim. A statement such as "contains fiber" is a claim that a food is a "good source" of fiber (See Appendix B of the Food Labeling Guide). However, in a statement that includes a quantitative declaration (e.g., "contains 2 grams of fiber"), the amount of fiber in the food is characterized by the quantitative declaration, "2 grams," and the term "contains" is a simple verb, not a nutrient content claim.
Answer: General dietary guidelines recommend a diet that derives 20-35% of calories from fat. Because a meal is comprised of a number of items from different food groups, and because it contributes a significant proportion of the daily diet, FDA would not object to labeling that provides information about percent calories derived from fat in a meal.
Conversely, FDA stated in the claims final rules that this information (e.g., percent calories from fat) would not be useful for individual food items. The agency is concerned that, because a diet that is consistent with dietary guidelines may be comprised of a variety of foods, highlighting percent calories from fat for individual food items may be misleading. Consequently, FDA discourages labeling that presents fat and calorie content as "percent calories from fat" for individual food items.
Answer: No. Only those claims, or their synonyms, that are specifically defined in the regulations may be used (Appendix B of the Food Labeling Guide). All other claims are prohibited (21 CFR 101.13(b)).
Answer: No. FDA addressed the use of the term "Fresh" to describe foods that are unprocessed or unpreserved in the same issue of the Federal Register in which the claims final rules appeared. However, "Fresh," as defined in 21 CFR 101.95, is not a nutrient content claim or a health claim and use of the term does not trigger nutrition labeling requirements.
Answer: A statement highlighting the presence or absence of an ingredient, where the ingredient is associated with the level of a nutrient, would be an implied nutrient content claim. Long recognized ingredient-nutrient relationships include: sugar and calories, oils and total fat, tropical oils and saturated fat, and whole grain or bran and dietary fiber. The statement "Contains oat bran," for example, implies that a food is "a good source of dietary fiber."
Answer: The agency considers a product that makes an express claim ("free," "low," "good source," or "high") about an ingredient in a product to be an implied relative claim about the product itself. For example, a claim that a pizza is "made with low fat cheese" is an implied claim that the pizza is at least "reduced in fat" compared to a similar pizza. Such a claim would be prohibited if the product did not meet the criteria for the relative claim ("less" or "more" of a nutrient) that it implied. In addition, for such an implied relative claim, the accompanying information required for relative claims would also be required (e.g., 25% less fat than regular pizza, contains ____g fat, regular pizza contains ____g fat). However, consistent with FDA's flexible approach, the agency would not object to the quantitative comparison information appearing on nutrition labeling if the labeling that bears the claim does not have sufficient space to accommodate the full statement (21 CFR 101.65(b)).
Answer: A statement that is not presented in a nutrient context, such as statements to facilitate avoidance (e.g., "contains no dairy ingredients"), information about characterizing ingredients or ingredients perceived to add value (e.g., "contains real butter"), and ingredients that do not serve nutritive purposes (e.g., "no preservatives") would not be an implied nutrient content claim (21 CFR 101.65(b)).
Answer: The statement would be an implied nutrient content claim if it highlights a preparation method that affects the nutrient content of a food (21 CFR 101.65). For example, "made only with vegetable oil" implies that, because vegetable oil was used instead of animal fat, the food is "low in saturated fat" or "cholesterol free." On the other hand, a statement about a preparation method that affects the character of a food but that does not characterize the nutrient content of a food (e.g., "made with fresh fruit" or "prepared fresh daily") would not be an implied claim.
Terms such as "broiled," "fried," or "steamed" would not subject a food to the nutrient content claims requirements if they are part of a food's identity statement (e.g., "baked potato," "steamed shrimp," or "fried zucchini"), or are used solely to identify different categories of food. In addition, labeling that bears a statement such as "available broiled or fried" in the context of providing optional preparation methods for a food would not, by itself, be an implied nutrient content claim. However, a statement such as "donuts, baked not fried" that highlights the preparation method in a way that consumers may assume that the food, because of the way it was prepared, has less or more of a nutrient would be an implied claim.
Answer: The name of an establishment is not necessarily a claim for the foods sold by the establishment. If, for example, "Cafe Lite" is the name of a restaurant, but the term is not being used to describe the foods sold by the restaurant (e.g., the name of the restaurant is not printed on labeling that describes the selections offered by the restaurant), it would not be a claim for the food. Further, if the name of the restaurant appears on labeling but is used in a context other than as a nutrient content or health claim (e.g., use of the term "Lite" to describe smaller portions or "Skinny" because it is the proprietor's nick-name), the term would not be a claim subject to the NLEA.
Conversely, if the name of the establishment is used to describe the foods served in the restaurant and the term is used in a nutrient context (e.g., "Cafe Lite" appears prominently on labeling and is accompanied by fat or calorie content claims), the foods that bear the claim must be clearly distinguishable from food items that do not. For example, selections that meet the requirements for a "light" claim may be highlighted by the use of a symbol or different type style and a footnote explaining that the highlighted items are light in fat or calories, or sodium.
Answer: Some statements clearly are implied nutrient content claims while other statements clearly are not. Situations where the agency has been able to determine that a statement would or would not constitute an implied claim are set out in 21 CFR 101.65. In many cases, however, whether a label statement is an implied claim can only be determined on a case-by-case basis, considering the entire label and the context in which the claim is made. In determining whether a statement is, or is not, an implied claim, FDA would consider both the restaurateur's intent and the consumer's likely perception of a statement.
Answer: A health claim is a reference on the label or in the labeling of a food that directly, or by implication, including 'third party' references, written statements, symbols, or vignettes, characterizes the relationship of a nutrient or substance to a disease or health related condition (21 CFR 101.14(a)(1)). While a nutrient content claim refers to a level or range of a nutrient in a food, a health claim includes two elements, i.e., a reference to a nutrient or substance and a reference to a disease or health related condition. Labeling that links a specific food to a statement such as "Heart Healthy" contains both the substance element (reference to a specific food) and the disease-condition element (implied reduction in risk of heart disease) of a health claim. Health claims may be used on the label or labeling of a food only if claims about the nutrient-disease relationship involved have been authorized by FDA in a regulation.
Answer: Implied health claims include those statements (e.g., "Heart Healthy"), symbols (e.g., a heart symbol), vignettes, or other forms of communication that suggest that a relationship exists between the presence or level of a substance in the food and a disease or health-related condition (21 CFR 101.14(a)(1)).
Answer: Whether a heart symbol is an implied health claim will depend on the context in which it is used. FDA advises that most of the perceptions about heart symbols fall under the regulatory regime of a health claim. For example, use of a heart symbol in association with a nutrient content claim (e.g., a claim about saturated fat or cholesterol) could imply that the food, because of its nutrient content, may be useful in reducing the risk of developing a disease or health-related condition, specifically, heart disease. Use of a heart symbol or similar logo in this context would trigger the health claims requirements that a food meet the definition of an approved claim, and that it bear nutrition labeling. Further, use of a heart symbol alone (i.e., in the absence of a statement explaining its use), could be misleading.
Alternatively, when a symbol is clearly being used in a context other than to highlight nutrient or health-related benefits of a food (e.g., a heart symbol followed by a statement such as "You'll love our home-made pies and cakes!") it would not be an implied claim. Further, a heart symbol may be used to identify items that are consistent with the dietary recommendations of a health professional association when labeling bears a statement explaining such use (e.g., the symbol is repeated in a footnote followed by a statement such as "these items are consistent with AHA guidelines," without triggering the claims requirements provided labeling does not bear another statement, phrase, symbol, or logo that would cause the heart symbol to be a claim in the context of the entire label (see question 55).
Answer: Generally, a serving of the food or meal must contain less than the specified levels of four disqualifying nutrients: fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium (21 CFR 101.14(a)(5)).
Generally, without fortification, the food must contain at least 10 percent of the Daily Value for at least one of the following six nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, fiber, or protein.
In addition to these general requirements, the food must meet the specific criteria listed in the regulation for each claim. For example, a food bearing a claim that links a diet low in total fat to the risk of some cancers (21 CFR 101.73) must also meet the definition for "low fat."
Answer: Disqualifying levels are those levels of total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, or sodium in a food above which the food will be disqualified from making a health claim (21 CFR 101.14(a)(5)). For individual food items, these levels are per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed and per serving (or, in the case of foods with RACCs of 30 grams or less or 2 tablespoons or less, per 50 grams). Values for meals and main dish items are per serving. Any one of these levels (e.g., per RACC or per serving), will disqualify a food from making a health claim.
Answer: No. An implied claim such as "Heart Healthy" does not contain the required elements. Terms such as "Heart Healthy" would need to be accompanied by additional information to be sufficiently informative.
Answer: The additional information should appear adjacent to the implied or abbreviated claim. If a number of foods bear an abbreviated claim, the additional information, (e.g., the full health claim), may appear adjacent to each abbreviated claim or adjacent to the most prominent claim. If the foods that bear an abbreviated health claim are grouped together in a box or other section of the labeling, the full health claim may appear once within that section.
Alternatively, where any graphic material or statement that constitutes an express or implied claim (e.g., "Heart Healthy"), the abbreviated claim may be followed in immediate proximity by the reference statement, "See ______ for information about the relationship between _____ and _____" informing consumers where the additional information may be found (21 CFR 101.14(d)(2)(iv)). Thus, the information required to be in the full health claim may appear elsewhere on the same or different labeling as the implied claim. In a restaurant, labeling that bears an abbreviated health claim may bear a statement such as "Ask your server for information about the relationship between (insert nutrient or substance) and (insert disease or health-related element)" if the full claim appears in labeling (e.g., a brochure or notebook) that is used by a restaurant to convey nutrition information.
Answer: Yes. Restaurants may offer alternative selections whose value in the diet may be recognized without elaboration, e.g., raw vegetables, steamed vegetables, a grain dish, a fresh fruit plate, or pasta with a tomato based sauce instead of a cream sauce. Optional preparation or serving methods may also be highlighted by statements such as "may be prepared with half the oil on request," "smaller portions," or "dressings and sauces available on the side," provided the statement about an ingredient or preparation method does not make an implied claim about the nutrient content of the food.
Answer: It depends. There is a separate set of requirements for foods for special dietary use in 21 CFR part 105. A claim made solely to identify a food that meets a particular dietary need that exists by reason of a physical, physiological, pathological, or other condition as described in part 105 would generally not be a nutrient content claim (21 CFR 101.65(b)(6)). Thus, a claim such as "Use as part of a weight reduction program" that identifies the special diet of which the food is intended to be a part would not, by itself, be a nutrient content claim.
However, if the claim about the use of the food in a special diet is used in a context that highlights a nutritional aspect of the food that is relevant to the general population (e.g., it is accompanied by a "low sodium" or "low calorie" claim), the food and its labeling would be subject to the nutrient content claims requirements.
Answer: Yes. Statements outside the coverage of the NLEA are still subject to the requirements in the law that they must be truthful and not misleading.
Answer: Dietary guidelines are general dietary guidance for good health made publicly available by recognized governmental (e.g., the U.S. Surgeon General, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), or private health professional organizations (e.g., the National Academy of Sciences, the American Dietetic Association, and the American Heart Association). Dietary guidance provided by third parties would need to be consistent with the recommendations of recognized dietary authorities and the current Federal Government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Dietary Guidelines generally promote moderate intake of nutrients such as sodium, fat, and saturated fat and increased consumption of grains, fruits, and vegetables. Dietary guidance is a group of general recommendations based on a total diet (e.g., "Eating a variety of 5 fruits and vegetables a day is an important part of a healthy diet," "Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers").
Conversely, a nutrient content claim is a claim about the nutrient content of a particular food (e.g., "low fat, this meal contains 10 grams of fat"). Claims about a food that suggest that the food, because of its nutrient content, may be useful in maintaining healthy dietary practices and that are made in conjunction with an explicit claim or statement about a nutrient (e.g., "Healthy, contains 3 grams of fat") are implied nutrient content claims (21 CFR 101.65(d), see Appendix B of the Food Labeling Guide).
Answer: It depends, in part, on the specific recommendations of the particular group. The Federal Government's 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, for example, recommend a diet with "moderate calorie intake, between 20-35 percent of calories from fat, less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat, less than 300 mg cholesterol per day, emphasis on vegetables, fruit, and grain products, and minimal use of added sugars, trans fats, and sodium." While a variety of foods may make-up a total diet, it may also be possible to identify a food or meal that can be part of a diet consistent with these recommendations.
Answer: When converting a value based on daily intake to a value that is appropriate for an individual food or meal, the recommended daily intake must be divided by an appropriate factor. Consumers generally eat three meals and several snacks a day. Because a single meal constitutes approximately 25% of the daily diet, dividing the daily value for a nutrient by a factor of 4 may be appropriate for determining the contribution of the level of that nutrient in a single meal towards a daily diet. Thus, a meal containing no more than 575 mg of sodium (2,300 mg/day X ¼ daily food intake = 575 mg) could be incorporated into a diet consistent with the American Heart Association's guidelines for sodium. A recommended value for daily consumption would need to be divided by a larger number, such as 8 for a main dish and 16 or 20 for an individual food item since a greater number of individual foods may be consumed in the course of a day.
Answer: Yes. If a food contains a nutrient at a level that exceeds the disqualifying levels in the general health claims requirements set out in 21 CFR 101.14(a)(5), it would be difficult for a consumer to incorporate such food into a diet consistent with generally accepted guidelines for a healthy diet. Although a healthy diet is composed of a variety of foods with different nutrient profiles and could include such foods, a claim that such a food would be a useful part of a diet consistent with dietary recommendations would be misleading if the food that bears the claim is not helpful in reaching dietary goals.
Answer: Generally, if a meal bears a claim that it is consistent with the dietary guidelines of a health professional organization, its nutrient content must be consistent with all the parameters of the guidelines of the organization. If the level of another nutrient in the meal (e.g., sodium) is not consistent with the dietary guidelines referred to, a claim that the meal is consistent with dietary guidelines would be misleading. (While statements about general dietary recommendations do not by themselves trigger specific nutrition labeling requirements, FDA would expect that a restaurant have available, as part of its reasonable basis for believing a food is consistent with dietary recommendations, information on the level of all nutrients associated with the recommendations of the organization.) Furthermore, statements that single out recommendations for a particular nutrient (e.g., "meets dietary guidelines for fat"), may be a claim about the nutrient content of the food (and therefore subject to the requirements for claims), rather than a statement offering general dietary guidance.
Answer: Statements that a food or meal meets the dietary guidelines of a health professional organization or other recognized dietary authority will be considered dietary guidance and not a nutrient content claim or health claim, provided the statement is limited to general dietary guidance and does not characterize the level of a nutrient in the food (21 CFR 101.13(q)(5)(iii)). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation, for example, that "Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables a day is an important part of a healthy diet," is general dietary guidance.
Restaurants may use a heart symbol to indicate food items that are consistent with the recommendations of a health professional organization such as the American Heart Association. However, information from such programs presented in labeling in a context that includes an explicit or implicit health claim (e.g., a statement such as "meets (insert association name) guidelines for a 'Heart Healthy' diet" or "meets the National Cancer Institute recommendations for fiber") will subject the food to the health claims requirements.
If a food bears a claim, it must comply with the requirements for the claim. If a restaurant wants to provide information as dietary guidance and not a health claim, it should not give undue emphasis to terms or symbols that could be an implied claim. Restaurants are encouraged to use alternative terms or symbols (e.g., a star or a check mark instead of a heart), to identify items that may not comply with the health claims requirements. If the name or logo of a third party reference is likely to be an implied claim when seen in conjunction with an individual food or meal, and the food or meal does not comply with the requirements for the claim, care should be taken to separate the reference from individual foods. It may be possible, however, for labeling to bear a statement such as "This restaurant has been a paying member of (insert program name) since 1994" provided such statement refers to the establishment, not a food, and it is less prominent (in size, type style, and placement) compared to other statements that refer to the food.
Answer: It depends. Reference to the organization will be regulated as a health claim if, within the context of the total labeling, it implies a relationship between a nutrient or substance and a disease or health-related condition. Conversely, some groups have a history of providing general dietary guidance for good health such that consumers would not automatically assume that the name of the organization or its logo implies association with the disease-related element of a health claim. Thus, reference to these groups and their guidelines would not constitute a health claim provided that the guidelines are general dietary recommendations (compared to dietary recommendations for individuals with a specific disease or health related condition) and reference to the organization contains no other reference to a substance or health-related condition.
Answer: Restaurant labeling may provide information about the guidelines of a professional health organization. Whether the information is regulated as a nutrient content claim or as dietary guidance will depend on the context in which it is presented. If nutrient information is directly linked to a particular food or meal (e.g., "this meal derives no more than 30% of its calories from fat"), the information would be a nutrient content claim (see question 54). However, if the information merely presents the guidelines of a health professional organization without making a statement about the nutrient content of a particular food, the information would not be a nutrient content claim. For example, labeling that highlights items that may be part of a diet that is consistent with all guidelines of a particular group may bear a footnote stating, "Highlighted items are consistent with the general dietary recommendations of (insert name of health professional organization). These guidelines are (describe all nutrient recommendations that comprise the group's guidelines)."
Answer: It is a reference on product labeling or advertising, made through a name or logo, linking a product to a person or organization that is independent of the product's manufacturer, seller, or distributor (the first party), or the consumer (the second party). The third party may be a State or local health department or consumer service agency, health professional organization, registered dietician, chef, celebrity, or other independent person or organization.
Answer: Yes. Failure to reveal that the endorsement required that compensation be made would be misleading. Labeling that bears the endorsement should bear a disclosure statement such as "A fee was paid to (insert name of program)" or "A paying member of (insert name of program)" in close proximity to the claim.
Answer: The term "Healthy" has a wide variety of meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. When the term (or any derivative of the term, e.g., "health," "healthier," or "healthful") appears in association with an explicit or implicit claim or statement about a nutrient (e.g., "Healthy, contains 3 grams of fat"), it is a nutrient content claim, and the food must meet the requirements for the claim (21 CFR 101.65(d)(2)) (Appendix B of the Food Labeling Guide).
"Healthy" in a phrase such as "Healthy Heart" or "Heart Healthy" could be an implied health claim about heart disease (see question 40). Alternatively, the statement "Eating a variety of fruits or vegetables a day is a good way to a healthy lifestyle" is not a health claim because it provides only general dietary guidance (i.e., it does not cite any particular health related condition nor does it refer to a particular food or substance).
Answer: It depends. Statements such as "Light Fare," "Light Bites," or "Light Entrees" will not be considered nutrient content claims provided that they do not characterize the level of a nutrient and the labeling that bears the claim also explains how the term is being used. For example, the term "Lite Fare" may be marked with an asterisk referring consumers to a statement explaining that the term means smaller portions. The explanatory statement must be located in reasonable proximity to the term (e.g., at the bottom of the same section of labeling that contains the "Lite Fare" term and the foods it describes).
Answer: No. An explanatory statement can not be used to exempt a term or symbol from the claims requirements when the term or symbol is an explicit or implied claim. Further, an explanatory statement is not sufficient to render a term or symbol not misleading when the term or symbol is used in the context of a nutrient content claim or a health claim, and the food does not meet the requirements for the claim. A restaurant cannot, for example, make a "low fat" claim for a food that contains more than 3 grams of fat per RACC (or per 100 grams for meals and main dish items), even if the labeling that bears the claim also contains a statement explaining the restaurant's definition for the claim.
Answer: It depends. If a restaurant makes a claim about its selections (e.g., "build your own low fat meal, selections contain less than 3 grams of fat"), and allows consumers to select meal components from different categories, all combined components must meet the requirements for the claim. If different combinations of foods do not meet the definition for a claim, the restaurant should not make a claim for those combinations. However, it may still make claims for the individual food items that meet the requirements for a claim. In addition, if a consumer chooses to mix foods from categories for which the restaurant makes a claim with foods from groups for which the restaurant does not make a claim, the meal with substituted components would not need to meet the requirements for a claim so long as labeling did not make an express or implied claim for that combination. For example, if a restaurant claims a salad plate, (e.g., tuna salad, fruit, and cottage cheese), is a "low fat" meal, all items on the plate must, in combination, meet the definition of "low fat." However if a consumer orders the salad plate but decides to delete the cottage cheese and order French fries instead, the meal is a new and different combination of foods from that for which the restaurant made a claim.
Answer: Copies of FDA's regulations are found in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 100-169. This book may be purchased from the U.S. Govt. Print. Off., Supt. of Docs., Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 (Order # 869-038-00000-8 GPO for paper). The claims regulations are in part 101. Copies of the CFR may also be purchased from other U.S. Government printing offices throughout the United States and are available online at http://www.access.gpo.gov.
Answer: No. A restaurant food, including restaurant-type foods described in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3), may bear a nutrient content claim or health claim provided the restaurateur has a "reasonable basis" for believing that the food meets the definition for the claim. If a restaurateur labels a food "low fat," for example, he or she must have a reasonable basis for believing that the food complies with FDA's definition for "low fat" (i.e., that it contains no more than 3 g of fat per RACC or, in the case of meals and main dishes, no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g) (see question 25).
Answer: Nutrient levels may be determined based on reliable nutrient data bases, cookbooks, or analyses, or by other reasonable bases that provide assurance that the food or meal meets the requirements for the claim (21 CFR 101.13(q)(5)(ii)). Additional sources of nutrition information include: USDA's Handbook No. 8 and current FDA's guideline on nutrient levels in seafood and information on the nutrient content of raw fruits and vegetables, (published in conjunction with FDA's regulation on the voluntary labeling of raw fruits and vegetables). Nutrition information for foods manufactured for institutional or restaurant use may also be available from the manufacturer or may, in some cases, be provided on the food's labeling. Such information on nutrient content of ingredients can be used along with the restaurant's recipe to calculate the nutrient content of the prepared food. Sources of nutrient information may be combined (e.g., merging data base values with information from ingredient suppliers) so long as the combined sources of information are still valid.
Answer: It depends. The claims criteria generally require that a nutrient be present at "no more than" or "no less than" a given level. Thus, a restaurateur may be able to determine that a food prepared using a modified recipe still meets the criteria for a claim without knowing the precise amount of the nutrient that is present in the finished food. For example, a restaurateur may reduce the proportion of salt and spices in a recipe for a "low sodium" soup during scale-up while the proportion of other major ingredients remains the same. The restaurateur may no longer know the exact sodium content of the food (i.e., the sum of sodium from added salt and that contributed by the other ingredients). However, assuming the nutrient values provided with the original recipe meet FDA's definition of "low sodium," the fact that changes during scale-up reduced, rather than increased, the primary sodium containing ingredient, would support a reasonable basis determination that the finished food is "low sodium."
However, if a recipe is altered in such a way that the restaurateur is not able to determine the effects of the change on the nutrient content of the finished food, the nutrient information based on the original recipe would no longer serve as a "reasonable basis" for believing the finished food meets the definition for a claim.
Answer: No. FDA does not have the authority to require prior approval of restaurant labeling that bears a nutrient content claim, health claim, or other nutrition information.
Answer: No. FDA has provided broad flexibility in establishing the "reasonable basis" criterion for restaurant foods. Thus, while some restaurateurs may choose to work with a third party to modify recipes or revise labeling, there is no requirement to do so. Restaurants should be able to make their own determinations once they are familiar with the requirements.
Answer: FDA has not approved, nor is it recommending, any specific data base for use in restaurants. Each restaurant must assess its own information needs and capabilities to ensure that the data base or other "reasonable basis" for the claims it makes is sufficient to support a claim. Assistance may be available through the following sources: trade and professional associations, trade publications, private consultants, and colleges and universities.
Answer: FDA does not intend to impose an unrealistic regime (e.g., to require exacting measurements or strict portion controls) in restaurants. However, the agency is requiring that a restaurant have a reasonable basis for believing that a food meets the nutrient requirements for a claim, and that it be able to provide reasonable assurance that the preparation of the food adheres to the basis for the claim. If a restaurateur has no knowledge of, or control over, the sodium content of a food, or some other aspect of its nutrient content, he/she should not attempt to make a sodium content or other claim about the nutrient levels in that food.
Answer: No. First, the "no more than 30 percent of calories from fat" criterion does not, by itself, ensure that a food is low in fat. Second, in order to have a reasonable basis for believing that a food derives no more than 30 percent of its calories from fat, a restaurateur needs to have sufficient information on the types and quantities of ingredients used in the food to determine both its fat and calorie content. The same information used to calculate percent calories from fat (a criterion for a low fat claim on meals and main dishes) can be used to calculate the amount of fat per RACC or, in the case of meals and main dishes, per 100 g of food.
Answer: No. A reasonable basis determination only needs to be done once provided portion size is reasonably constant, the restaurant follows a standardized recipe, and the method of preparation adheres to the basis for the claim.
Answer: Restaurateurs will need to employ preparation methods that are sufficiently consistent, including weight and volume measurements, to provide reasonable assurance that the preparation method adheres to the basis for the claim. They must also consider the effects of any addition or substitution of ingredients, or of any change in preparation method, on the level of a nutrient that is the subject of a claim. For example, the nutrient content values that FDA published in conjunction with the voluntary nutrition labeling program for baked fish would no longer apply to fish that is breaded or fried.
It may be necessary for some restaurateurs to develop written standard operating procedures or other kitchen instructions for use by staff to guard against uncontrolled addition or substitution of ingredients. For example, if a "low fat" claim depends on the use of skim milk rather than whole milk, staff should be aware that the food bearing a "low fat" claim may not be made with whole milk. Further, if a food bears a "low sodium" claim based on its containing a limited amount of salt, allowing staff to "salt-to-taste" instead of using measured amounts would contravene the reasonable basis for believing that the food meets the requirements for the claim.
Answer: For compliance purposes, FDA will look at the recipe, nutrient information source, and any calculations used by a restaurant as its "reasonable basis" for believing that a food meets the requirements for a claim or other nutrition information. FDA will evaluate whether this information, and the nutrition information provided to consumers, are consistent with FDA's definition for the claim that is used. FDA may also request that a restaurant provide reasonable assurance that the method of preparation used adheres to the restaurant's basis for the claim.
Answer: No. The definition for a "low fat" claim is that the food contains no more than 3 grams of fat per RACC (3.3 g of fat per RACC would be declared as 3.5 g). If the restaurant's reasonable basis determination shows that a food contains more than 3 grams of fat per RACC, the restaurateur would not have a reasonable basis for believing the food meets the definition of the claim. For more information on rounding guidelines, see Appendix H of the Food Labeling Guide.
Answer: The restaurant must keep sufficient records to provide appropriate regulatory officials, upon request, with information on its "reasonable basis" and with reasonable assurance that the preparation method adheres to that basis. The type and amount of information necessary to support a claim will vary with the type of establishment, the types of food sold, preparation methods, and the types of claims being made. However, the following check list may be helpful:
Answer: Not necessarily. The requirements in 21 CFR 101.13(q)(5)(ii) require that a restaurant provide reasonable assurances that it adhered to its basis for making a claim. Examples of the types of information that may be useful for a restaurant to provide in support of its basis for a claim are discussed in response to the preceding question. It is unlikely that a regulatory official would require information like the records of ingredient purchases unless he/she had reasonable cause to doubt a restaurant's stated basis.
Answer: The RACC is the amount of a food item customarily consumed per eating occasion as determined by FDA for the purpose of establishing realistic and consistent serving sizes for use in food labeling. RACCs for almost 150 different food categories are set out in 21 CFR 101.12. (RACCs for meat and poultry products are listed in 9 CFR 317.312.)
Restaurants do not need to alter the size of the portions they serve to be the same as the RACC, nor does the serving size used in the labeling for a particular food need to be the same as the RACC. However, in order to make certain nutrient content claims or health claims, an individual food must meet the definition for the claim based on the amount of the subject nutrient in an amount of the food equal to its RACC (e.g., a "low fat" food may contain up to 3 grams of fat per RACC). When a food's RACC is small (i.e., 30 grams or less or 2 tablespoons or less), the food (e.g., a sauce or condiment) must also meet the requirements for the claim based on its nutrient content per 50 grams.
Answer: The RACC for all types of soup is 245 grams. This value is based on the amount of soup that survey data showed is customarily consumed in a single sitting, i.e., 1 cup, and information from the USDA that the average gram-weight per cup measure for soups is 245 grams.
For some claims (e.g., "free"), the criteria for the claim include the amount of a nutrient per RACC and per labeled (or actual) serving size. In order to bear a "fat free" claim, a restaurateur must have a reasonable basis for believing the soup contains less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving. Nutrition labeling would declare fat content as "0." In order to bear a "low fat" claim, soup may contain up to 3 grams of fat per cup (245 grams) according to the restaurateur's reasonable basis determination. If the same soup is served to consumers in a bowl that holds 50 percent more soup (1.5 cup (367 grams)), the larger serving may contain up to 4.5 grams of fat (i.e., a serving size that is 1.5 times the RACC may contain 1.5 times as much of the subject nutrient).
Answer: Yes. A "reduced fat food," for example, must contain at least 25% less fat per RACC compared to the reference food. However, for all practical purposes, when the RACCs are the same for both foods (e.g., "regular potato salad" and "reduced fat potato salad"), the comparative information (% fat reduction) may be calculated based on equivalent amounts of each food, independent of the RACC.
Answer: Criteria for the use of claims on meals and main dishes (as defined in 21 CFR 101.13(l) and (m)) are somewhat different from those for individual foods. The criteria for claims for meals and main dishes are based on the level of the nutrient in 100 grams of the food. For example, while a "low fat" individual food contains 3 grams or less of fat per RACC, a "low fat" meal (or main dish) contains 3 grams or less of fat per 100 grams of food. Thus, a "low fat" meal weighing 300 grams (approximately 10 ounces) may contain as much as 9 grams of fat per serving.
Answer: There are two types of nutrient content claims (i.e., relative and absolute claims). A relative claim is a claim about the level of a nutrient in one food compared to another food (i.e., the reference food). When making a relative claim (e.g., "more," "less," "reduced," or "added"), the restaurateur will need to know the level of one or more nutrients in both the food making the claim and in the reference food. Conversely, an absolute claim (e.g., "high," "low," or "free") is based on the level of a nutrient in the food making the claim, and comparison to a reference food is not necessary.
Answer: No. The reference food may be the restaurant's regular product, or that of another restaurant, that has been offered for sale to the public on a regular basis for a substantial period of time. However, nutrient values for a reference food may also be derived from such sources as a valid data base, an average of top national or regional brands, or a market basket norm (21 CFR 101.13(j)(1)(ii)).
Answer: It depends on the claim. Claims such as "reduced" may only be used to compare individual food items that are similar (e.g., potato chips to potato chips). However, claims such as "more" or "less" may be used to compare similar foods or they may be used to compare meals, main dish items, and dissimilar foods within a product category (e.g., potato chips to pretzels) provided that the food for which the claim is made meets the nutrient requirements for the claim (e.g., "less fat," contains at least 25% less fat compared to the reference food) and the food or meal bearing the claim could reasonably be expected to be substituted for the food to which the comparison is made (e.g., one appetizer for another, one entree for another) (21 CFR 101.13(j)(1)(i)(A)).
Answer: Generally, restaurant labeling must comply with all requirements for a claim unless specifically exempted from the requirement (21 CFR 101.13(q)(5)). Relative claims, for example, must be accompanied by a statement identifying the reference food and the percent (or fraction) of the amount of the nutrient in the reference food by which the labeled food differs (e.g., "Reduced fat cheese cake, contains 25% less fat than regular cheesecake").
However, consistent with the agency's flexible approach to restaurant labeling, FDA would use its regulatory discretion in evaluating labeling that bears a claim but for which compliance with a particular requirement may be difficult or inappropriate (e.g., because of the way in which a food is served (e.g., unpackaged, no labeled serving size or ingredient declaration) or the way the claim is presented (e.g., a single claim in a heading in labeling for a group of foods, or nutrition labeling that is independent of the labeling that bears the claim). While FDA has stated that some information (e.g., the identity of a reference food) is material to consumers' understanding of a claim, the agency would not object, in a restaurant situation, to the required accompanying information being presented in other labeling, (e.g., in a brochure or notebook along with nutrient information), when it is impractical for such information to accompany the claim (e.g., multiple claims on a menu with limited space).
Answer: No. The exemptions in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) through (iii) apply to individual food items that are served or sold in a restaurant or similar establishment, not to the establishment. A restaurant need only provide nutrition information for those items that bear a claim. The restaurant may voluntarily provide nutrition information for restaurant foods that do not bear a claim.
Answer: Yes. The exemptions in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(iv) for foods sold for use only in restaurants but not served directly to consumers in the package received (e.g., large quantity containers) and in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(v) for foods sold by a distributor who principally sells food to such facilities are not conditional on the absence of claims as are the other exemptions under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2) because the consumer will not see these package labels. However, manufacturers, packers, or distributors may wish to place nutrition information on the label of the package or case, or in a flyer in each case of product, for the benefit of the food service operator who may need such information to support any claims made to consumers in the restaurant. Likewise, the restaurateur may require nutrient content information as a condition of purchase.
Answer: The term "restaurant" applies broadly to establishments where food is served or sold for immediate, on-site consumption (e.g., institutional food service establishments, such as schools, hospitals, and cafeterias; transportation carriers, such as trains and airplanes; delicatessens, and catering where there are facilities for immediate consumption on the premises).
The definition of "restaurant" extends to establishments where foods are generally consumed immediately where purchased or while walking away (e.g., lunch wagons, cookie counters in a mall, and vending machines, including similar foods sold from convenience stores); and food delivery systems or establishments where ready-to-eat foods are delivered to homes or offices for immediate consumption.
Answer: No. The exemptions in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) through (iii) are limited to (1) ready-to-eat foods served in restaurants and in other establishments in which food is sold for immediate human consumption and (2) foods sold for sale or use only in such establishments. Commercially packaged foods such as soft drinks in cans, bags of potato chips, and candy bars that may be sold in restaurants and vending machines but that are also sold through other retail outlets (e.g., grocery stores) must bear nutrition labeling, regardless of whether or not they bear a claim (subject, of course, to the low volume product and small business exemptions).
Answer: Food served aboard airplanes and other common carriers is exempt from nutrition labeling under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(ii) provided it does not bear a claim.
Answer: No. The exemptions in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) through (iii) cover foods that are served or sold in restaurants and similar establishments, regardless of whether they are sold in packaged form provided their sale is limited to restaurant establishments. However, FDA strongly encourages that products such as the bottled salsa bear nutrition labeling when they are sufficiently standardized to do so.
Answer: Yes. The exemption in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(iii) for foods sold in restaurants specifies that the food be sold only in restaurants. Because the sale of the salsa is not limited to restaurants, both products (i.e., restaurant and retail) must bear nutrition labeling under 21 CFR 101.9. The exceptions to this requirement would be (1) foods that are packaged differently for use in restaurants compared to the food sold at other retail locations (e.g., catsup, soy sauce, and other condiments packed in decorative containers for table service), and (2) products covered by the small business or low volume products exemptions.
Answer: If the retail area is located in close proximity to the restaurant (e.g., across the aisle from the area where food is served), and if it is not operated independently from the restaurant, it could be considered part of the restaurant establishment and the foods sold therein may qualify for the "restaurant food" exemption. However, any food item whose sale is not limited to restaurants would not be a restaurant food and, therefore, would not be eligible for the exemption in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(iii).
Answer: Foods that are prepared or dispensed by a vending machine (e.g., soda, coffee, soup, or popcorn that is dispensed into a cup) would be analogous to foods served in a restaurant and, therefore, would be exempt from nutrition labeling requirements provided the food does not bear a claim (21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(ii)).
Vending machine foods sold in packaged form (e.g., a salad or sandwich prepared in a commissary) that are similar to foods sold in restaurants are exempt from nutrition labeling requirements under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(iii) provided the food does not bear a claim and it is not sold through other retail channels (e.g., grocery stores).
The exemption for food sold in restaurants and similar establishments, including vending machines, extends to commercially manufactured foods that have been specially packaged for sale only in such establishments. However, FDA strongly encourages that foods that are sufficiently standardized to bear nutrition labeling (e.g., individual serving size cans of soup) do so.
Answer: FDA has stated that the exemption from nutrition labeling for such foods should be limited in scope and that some enforcement decisions will need to be made on a case-by-case basis. Generally, however, the foods covered by this exemption must be of the type served in restaurants or similar establishments (i.e., ready-to-eat, sold for immediate human consumption). Such foods would be expected to be non-standardized (e.g., prepared in a commissary kitchen similar to a restaurant or cafeteria kitchen where foods are assembled by hand and subject to individual product variations) and to have a short shelf-life.
Examples of such foods would include: sandwiches; single-serving packages of salads, pies, and puddings; and soups and beverages dispensed into cups, that are in direct competition with foods served in restaurants and that are generally consistent with the above criteria.
In contrast, this exemption would not extend to foods that are not ready-to-eat or are not for immediate consumption. As discussed in response to question 107, there is a separate exemption from nutrition labeling for ready-to-eat foods not for immediate consumption (e.g., ready-to-eat foods that are processed or prepared at the location from which they are sold but that are sold for later use (21 CFR 101.9(j)(3)). Where the food sold in a convenience store is sufficiently standardized to bear nutrition labeling, it should do so, unless otherwise exempt.
Answer: Foods that are eligible for the exemption from nutrition labeling under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2), including sandwiches sold from lunch wagons, vending machines, and convenience stores, are exempt in their entirety. Therefore, a mayonnaise packet packaged with a sandwich is also exempt as long as its label does not bear a claim or other nutrition information.
Answer: Yes. Food that is served in a restaurant or similar establishment is exempt from nutrition labeling provided that the food does not bear a claim (21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) and (ii)). Condiments in single serve packages placed in a bowl on a table in a full service restaurant or in a container on a lunch counter or vending facility for consumers to use at their discretion, would be eligible for these exemptions. Likewise, condiments served in larger, multi-serving containers would also be eligible for the exemption under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) or (ii) provided the food does not bear a claim.
Answer: In the August 18, 1993, technical amendments (58 FR 44020[c2]), FDA amended 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(i)(B) to permit individual serving-size packages of food for use in restaurants and similar situations to use the minimum type size allowed under current 21 CFR 101.2(c)(2) of one thirty-second inch for nutrition labeling provided that the packages have a total area available to bear labeling of 3 square inches or less. If, despite this provision, a small package still cannot comply with nutrition labeling requirements, the person responsible for labeling is advised to write the Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, CFSAN, FDA (HFS-800), 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740 requesting alternative means of compliance in accordance with 21 CFR 101.9(g)(9). (See question 2 and question 3.)
Answer: FDA requires that the label of a food sold in packaged form identify conspicuously the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor (21 CFR 101.5). The firm that is so identified is generally the firm that is responsible for insuring that the food is properly labeled.
Answer: Not necessarily. The exemptions for foods served in restaurants and in similar establishments (21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) and (ii)) imply that the food is ready-to-eat and is served for immediate consumption. However, a restaurant may also sell foods for carry-out that are not ready-to-eat (e.g., a pizza that is only half cooked or a pie that is frozen). Further, foods sold for use in restaurants may be used as ingredients in the foods a restaurant prepares but are not, themselves, ready-to-eat. Thus, the exemptions for foods sold for sale or use only in restaurants (21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(iii) and (iv)) and for foods sold by a distributor who principally sells food to such facilities (21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(v)) are not limited to ready-to-eat foods.
Answer: In the above example, all foods served in the larger restaurant establishment would be exempt from nutrition labeling provided the food does not bear a claim. Foods sold for carry-out or home delivery from larger establishments (i.e., establishments with facilities for immediate consumption of the food) would also be exempt provided the food does not bear a claim and sale of the food is limited to restaurant-type establishments.
Foods sold by an establishment with no tables and chairs would still be eligible for the exemption provided that the food is ready-to-eat and is generally consumed immediately where purchased or while walking away (e.g., pizza sold from a walk-up counter in a mall). This exemption extends to foods sold by establishments that have facilities for delivering ready-to-eat foods to homes and offices for immediate consumption. Ready-to-eat "carry-out" foods would be similar to home-delivery foods, with the consumer doing the delivering, provided the foods are sold for immediate consumption.
Answer: Yes, provided the foods meet the general criteria for restaurant foods (i.e., they are ready-to-eat and sold for immediate consumption). Although foods served or sold in restaurants are frequently prepared on-site, this is not a requirement for this exemption. (There is a separate exemption in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3) for restaurant-type foods that are ready-to-eat, not for immediate consumption, and prepared at the retail location from which they are sold (see question 107).
Answer: If a food is consistent with the general requirements for the exemption for restaurant foods, it would not automatically lose its exemption because of a limited number of sales that are different from normal practice. When determining whether a food qualifies for an exemption from nutrition labeling, and which exemption applies, FDA would consider how the food would most often be reasonably expected to be sold (e.g., for immediate consumption).
Answer: Restaurant foods that bear a claim must comply with the same definitions for nutrient content claims or qualify to bear health claims under the same authorizing regulations as foods from other sources. At the same time, FDA is providing a measure of flexibility in how restaurateurs determine the nutrient content of their food (e.g., "reasonable basis" for believing a food meets the definition of a claim), and how they communicate this information to consumers (e.g., in a brochure or notebook) (21 CFR 101.10). These provisions are discussed in section IV of this document.
Answer: Yes. Even though claims on menus are not currently subject to NLEA, States would be free to apply nutrition labeling and claims requirements to claims on menus. Furthermore, because the FD&C Act exempts restaurant foods that do not bear a claim from mandatory nutrition labeling, State requirements for the nutrition labeling of such foods would not be preempted. The FD&C Act also exempts restaurant foods that bear a claim from certain disclosure statements. Thus, State requirements of this type would not be preempted (FD&C Act section 403A(a)).
The NLEA provided for Federal preemption of State and local requirements that are not identical to the Federal requirement in a number of key areas of food labeling (section 403A (a) of the FD&C Act). However, sections 403A(a)(4) and (5) of the FD&C Act provide that State requirements of the type required by 403(q) (nutrition labeling) and 403(r)(1) (claims) would not be preempted for foods that are exempt from the Federal requirements.
Answer: It depends. 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3) exempts the types of ready-to-eat foods that would have been exempted by 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2)(i) or (ii) (i.e., ready-to-eat foods that are served in restaurants and similar establishments and that do not bear a claim) had it not been for the requirement that the food be sold in an establishment that has facilities for immediate consumption.
To be eligible for the exemption in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3), restaurant-type foods that are sold by retail establishments that do not have facilities for immediate consumption must be: (1) similar to foods served in restaurants, (2) ready-to-eat, (3) primarily processed or prepared at the retail establishment from which they are sold, and (4) not offered for sale outside such establishment.
Accordingly, ready-to-eat food that is prepared on-site, and that is sold only from such retail location, is exempt from nutrition labeling under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3) provided that it does not bear a claim, regardless of whether or not there are facilities for on-site consumption. Foods that are prepared elsewhere but are portioned and packaged to consumer specifications at retail would fulfill the prepared on-site criterion.
Answer: As long as the food is fully cooked, it is considered ready-to-eat. For example, a pizza with a raw crust that requires cooking before consumption would not be "ready-to-eat." However, a pizza that is cooked and then cooled would be. While most customers would be expected to reheat the food before consumption, it would not be necessary that they do so.
Answer: Foods sold from behind deli and bakery service cases, where the customer must make a selection and indicate the amount of the item desired, are exempt unless the food bears a claim or other nutrition information. When claims or other nutrition information are given, nutrition labeling needs to be displayed clearly at the point-of-purchase. When the deli or bakery foods that are regulated by FDA are packaged for self-service, they are only exempt from nutrition labeling if the product was primarily processed or prepared on-site, and no claims are made for the product.
If the food is primarily processed or prepared on the premises from which it is sold, it is exempt from nutrition labeling, regardless of how it is sold (i.e., from behind the counter or pre-portioned packages from a self-service shelf).
Answer: To meet the criterion for being "primarily processed or prepared on-site," the food must be augmented on site in a manner that changes the nutritional profile of the food, i.e., filling, icing, enrobing. Foods that are assembled on-site meet this criterion even though some components of the food (e.g., the bread or cheese used in a sandwich) were prepared elsewhere. Similarly, cakes that are custom decorated at the retail location are exempt, even if the cake was baked elsewhere. Garnishing (e.g., adding sesame seeds to bread dough) would fall under the definition of "primarily processed or prepared on-site" if the added food changes the nutritional profile of the finished product. In contrast, if a food is merely portioned on-site or if pre-formed dough or pre-scaled/-molded dough is simply thawed or merely proofed and baked at the retail location, the product is not "primarily processed or prepared on-site," and nutrition labeling is required.
Answer: No, this product is produced on the premises from raw oranges available in the retail section of the store. It may be collected in containers brought in by consumers or containers available from the retail store. The product need not have nutrition labeling.
Answer: Cheese is generally not processed or prepared on the premises. Therefore, unless it is sold from behind the deli counter (i.e., portioned to consumer specifications), it would not qualify for an exemption under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3). When pre-portioned, wrapped, and put out on a self-service counter, it is a packaged food and must meet all labeling requirements.
Answer: If the cheesecake is primarily processed or prepared on the premises, or if it is sold from behind the deli counter, it is exempt under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3). If it does not meet either of these criteria, it must bear full labeling. As with cheese, when pre-portioned, wrapped, and put out on a self-service counter, it is a packaged food and must meet all labeling requirements.
Answer: Nutrition labeling would be required on the cut pieces when they are packaged and put out on a self-service shelf, or if claims are made on the product when sold from behind the counter. When labeling is required, the serving size for the unsliced bread should be based on the RACC (e.g., "2 oz (56 g/1 inch slice)"), and the "Servings per container" could say "varied," so that the same nutrition label could be used on all random weight portions.
Answer: Unpackaged ready-to-eat foods available for self-service from salad and soup bars in a retail store (i.e., a grocery store that does not have facilities for immediate consumption) are generally exempt under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3) since the foods are of the type often sold from a service counter or deli case and are portioned to consumer specifications (even though it is the customer, not store personnel, who is portioning the food item). This exemption includes ready-to-eat food, not for immediate consumption, that is primarily processed or prepared at the retail location from which it is sold, regardless of whether it is sold wrapped or self-service.
If the food is ready-to-eat and is sold for immediate consumption, it may also qualify for the restaurant food exemption, even if it is sold from a retail establishment with no facilities for immediate consumption. (See, e.g., foods sold in convenience stores that are in direct competition with restaurant foods (question 89).
The above exemptions are dependent on the food not bearing a claim or other nutrition information. If a claim is made (e.g., "low fat pasta salad"), or when other nutrition information is provided, the above exemptions are lost, and nutrition information must be provided.
Answer: Platters prepared or assembled at a retail location and sold from such retail location are exempt under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(3), regardless of whether the platter includes a commercially processed food component, such as a dip. In contrast, platters that are prepared in a central commissary and shipped to the retail store must bear nutrition labeling (except platters containing only fresh fruits or vegetables that are exempt under the voluntary nutrition labeling program 21 CFR 101.9(j)(10)).
(1) This guidance has been prepared by the Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.