New Menu and Vending Machines Labeling Requirements

 

On March 23, 2010, the President signed the health care reform legislation into law. Section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on restaurant menus and menu boards, including drive-through menu boards. Other nutrient information – total calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein – would have to be made available in writing upon request. The Act also requires vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines to disclose calorie content for certain items. 

The FDA has issued a Federal Register notice that explains how restaurants and similar retail food establishments with fewer than 20 locations and vending machine operators with fewer than 20 vending machines can voluntarily register to become subject to new federal menu labeling requirements. Anyone needing assistance with filling out this form call 240-402-2371.

 

• Food Labeling; Nutrition Labeling of Standard Menu Items in Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments; Proposed Rule
  • Proposed Rule Correction 
  • Proposed Rule Extension of Comment Period 
  • Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis: Nutrition Labeling of Standard Menu Items in Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF - 337KB)
• Food Labeling; Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food in Vending Machines; Proposed Rule
  • Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis: Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food in Vending Machines NPRM (PDF - 125KB) 

 

Additional Information

• Overview of FDA Proposed Labeling Requirements for Restaurants, Similar Retail Food Establishments and Vending Machines
• Questions and Answers on the New Menu and Vending
  Machines Nutrition Labeling Requirements
   

We want to hear from you... 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has worked closely with stakeholders, including states, consumer groups and the restaurant industry as we implement this important new law. We encourage all stakeholders to share their thoughts about these two proposed rules.

To submit your comments electronically to the docket go to www.regulations.gov:

1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar 
2. Enter one of the following docket numbers in the “Keyword” space 
   FDA-2011-F-0171 (vending machine)
   FDA-2011-F-0172 (menu)
3. Then select “Search”
    

To submit your comments to the docket by mail, use the following address:

The Division of Dockets Management
HFA-305
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Be sure to include the appropriate docket number on
each page of your written comments.