New Law Would Require Calories on Restaurant Menus

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Editor

The chairman of the House health committee has proposed a new law that would mandate national food chains to include calorie information on their menus.

A companion bill would ban restaurant chains from serving food with artificial trans fats.

If passed, the law on calorie information would apply to chains with 20 or more establishments—including everyone from McDonald’s to Olive Garden.

Some items on the menu would be exempt, such as specials that are available for 60 days or less, condiments, and “food items for general use.”

“Rhode Island has a significant number of obese and overweight citizens who are facing health risks associated with their lifestyle choices. By requiring restaurants to provide calorie information, we can help people make health-conscious choices,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep Joseph McNamara, D-Cranston, Warwick.

Another bill would require that school cafeteria menus do the same.

“Rhode Island has the 29th highest number of youth with obesity,” said McNamara, who chairs the House Committee on Health, Welfare, and Education. “This bill would mitigate this problem by giving school children nutrition information, thus giving them the option to pick healthier alternatives.”
 

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