Posted on 04/01/2011 5:07:12 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
FDA Sets Rules for Vending Machine Calorie Info By Emily P. Walker, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today Published: April 01, 2011 Click here to provide feedback
WASHINGTON -- Chain restaurants, vending machines, and convenience stores would all have to prominently display the calorie counts of their foods under two proposed rules released by the FDA Friday.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated that vending machines and food establishments with 20 or more locations -- which includes fast-food restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and certain grocery and convenience stores -- display the calorie counts of their food items. The new rules would implement that portion of the law.
Establishments whose primary purpose is not to sell food -- such as movie theaters and bowling alleys -- would not be subject to the law, meaning giant tubs of buttery popcorn and pizzas and nachos wouldn't have to carry a calorie-count label.
The FDA is accepting public comment for 60 days on the vending machine proposed rule and the restaurant proposed rule before the law goes into effect in 2012.
"These proposals will ensure that consumers have more information when they make their own food choices," said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a press release. "Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier."
In addition to requiring restaurants to display calorie counts of specific foods prepared on site, the ACA also requires menus and menu boards to carry statements about suggested daily caloric intake. The FDA's proposed rule suggests the statement read, "A 2,000-calorie diet is used as the basis for general nutrition advice; however, individual calorie needs may vary."
Eating establishments would have to make additional nutritional information available upon request.
The rule will likely be most onerous for fast-food restaurants. But convenience stores, whose products generally already carry nutrition information, would have to list calorie information for foods prepared on site, such as sandwiches and salads.
Under the proposed vending machine rule, operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines would post calorie information for food sold in the machine, unless certain nutrition information is already visible on individual packages of food.
Some chains, such as Starbucks, have already begun listing calorie counts on food, and the practice is already required in California and New York.
So called “americans” are too Fn stupid these days to figure this crap out for themselves. We need da gubmint to do it for us.
"I love my job."
Americans are getting what they deserve.
They wanted to be slaves to the government. They are getting it.
They also are being treated like stupid children. But they can’t see that.
Your government cares.
Think about that while you’re job hunting, buying gas, paying your taxes.....
And grope their grandmas and molest their children in airports.
The list, ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
Obamacare strikes again. Pass it and find out what’s in it, indeed.
Next step, readers for those who can't read, braille versions for the blind, and multilingual versions based upon surveys of the local population. Sarcasm, I hope.
Carbohydrate measurements are meaningful ~ particularly for diabetics ~ and we have more and more of them every day as the population ages.
I think this is worth commenting on directly to the agency.
Your comment makes no sense. This requires more information be available to "americans" so they can "figure [it] out for themselves."
Great ADA and civil rights lawsuit ideas! Start drafting.
Sure, and get the feebs to drill down even further into private business. No thanks.
Anyone serious about closely controlling his diet (for any reason) probably already has literature that lists the approximate nutritional values of various ready to eat and fast foods. Weight Watchers knew about this in the early nineties.
Seriously, carrying around your own references is the only way. Having FDA require the posting of meaningless information information is criminal.
There’s another nanny state org that needs to be dumped along with the EPA and the BATFE.
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