1. Providing nutritional labeling in our community restaurants
Our community of Orlando, Fl. is widely known as “The City Beautiful”, attracting tourists from all across the world for its many attractions and fine dining. However, there is a side to our community that we don’t always see… the high rates of obese adults, currently 26.6% in our state (Centers for Disease Control, 2010).
Restaurant owners like yourselves play a key role in addressing obesity in our community. By providing nutritional labeling in your restaurants, you are making a difference in the way our community makes healthy choices.
Nutritional Labeling Margie Natera, Master of Public Health Student Walden University PUBH Dr. Patrick Tschida Fall Term
Providing nutritional labeling in our community restaurants

2. Objectives
Analyze some trends as they relate to food consumed away from home
Define regulatory standards that pertain to nutritional labeling
Recognize the impact of nutritional labeling in consumer’s health
Identify the key benefits of nutritional labeling
Today, I invite you to think about some of the trends that relate to the American’s consumption of food away from home; how this impacts our community’s personal health; the benefits that come from nutritional labeling, as well as some regulatory standards.

3. Obesity… A National Health Issue
Obesity Data and Statistics
Dramatic increases in prevalence of obesity in U.S.
U.S. trends of food consumption away from home
Food away from home and its impact on obesity
I’d like to begin by providing an overview of obesity in the US. Rates continue to be on the rise. Over the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase leading to about 1/3 of adults and about 17% of children and adolescents becoming obese (CDC, 2010).
Partly, the problem is due to the ever-increasing trend to eat out. From 1970 to 2005, food expenditure away from home in the US rose 40% (US Department of Agriculture, 2004).
Since 2000, there has been an increase of over 150 million dollars in spent in restaurant food consumption. (USDA, 2011). In addition, in 2010, about 47% of food budgets were spent on foods purchased away from home (USDA, 2011)
Increases in foods consumed away from home may have an adverse effect on individuals’ health and quality of diet. Results in a study conducted by the USDA’s Economic Research Service showed that foods consumed away from home were higher in calories and saturated fat. They also contained less dietary fiber, calcium and iron (Guthrie, J., Lin, B., and Frazao, E., 2002).
Obesity… A National Health Issue

4. Providing Nutritional Information
FDA: Nutrition Labeling Act
Addresses food manufacturers for packaged foods
Healthcare Reform Bill
Addresses chain restaurants
The problem is that current regulations relating to food labeling have many limitations.
The FDA, through the Nutrition Labeling Act, has required food manufacturers to provide nutrition information on all packaged foods. However, they exempt restaurants from these mandatory labeling regulations, allowing them the flexibility to determine the nutrient content of food and how the information is presented to customers (US Food and Drug Administration, 2008)
The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act passed in March 2010 requires chain restaurants with more than 20 locations to display caloric and nutritional information on every menu offering, with the exception of daily specials (Healthcare Reform, 2009). This is great news! However, they do not provide consumers the nutrition information at the point purchase (ie: menu). Rather, it’s provided on the restaurant’s website, requiring individuals to have to plan ahead and view the information online.
Unfortunately, this is not enough. Taking the extra step to provide nutritional information in restaurants’ menus has many benefits that will help address the rise in obesity.

5. In 2009, California became the first state to implement the legislation and requires chain restaurants to provide nutritional information to consumers (Legislative Council’s Digest, 2008).
Similar menu labeling legislations have also been successfully implemented in other states like New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
But as you can see, Florida is not one of these states.
Source: National Restaurant
Association

6. Why It Works Helps individuals make informed choices
Helps them manage their diet/weight
Positively impacts health outcomes
The benefits to nutritional labeling are many:
First, menu labeling in restaurants has allows individuals to take personal responsibility and make informed choices.
It helps them manage their weight and diet, reducing the risk for obesity, and other leading causes of death, such as heart disease and diabetes (CDC, 2011)
The use of food nutrition labels is also associated with a lower fat intake (Neuhouser, M., Kristal, M. and Patterson, R., 1999).
Additionally, consumers have a right to information. A nationwide online survey by a food service company showed that 83% of responders felt nutritional information should be available in restaurant menus (Helmich, N., 2005).

7. A Call to Action Local restaurant support for menu labeling
Partnership with health department
Implement successful strategies
Our modern food environment has prompted the call for menu labeling in restaurants like yours. Menu labeling has the potential to make positive public health impact. Food environments that make healthy food more accessible, acceptable and desirable, make it easier for individuals to make healthy food choices.
With the public’s request for more information and support of menu labeling, I encourage restaurant owners like yourselves to seek partnership with our local public health department to create a permanent change in obesity policies.
For your benefit, I have provided additional resources. In particular, I’d like you to pay attention to the success of some of the programs already implemented and some of the barriers they’ve overcome.

8. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Leading causes of death. Retrieved from:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity among adults: US trends through Retrieved from:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). US obesity trends. Retrieved from:
Guthrie, J., Lin, B., and Frazao, E. (2002). Role of food prepared away from home in the American diet: Changes and consequences. Journal of Nutrition Education Behavior: 34,
Healthcare Reform 3962 (2009). Retrieved from:
Helmich, N. (2005). Diners want more info and smaller entrees. USA Today. Retrieved from:
National Restaurant Association Sate Legislative Issue Review: Menu Labeling Legislation. Retrieved from:
Neuhouser, M., Kristal, M. and Patterson, R. (1999) Use of food nutrition labels is associated with a lower fat intake. Journal of American Dietetic Association: 99 (1), 45-53).
US Department of Agriculture (2004). The demand for food away from home: Full service or fast food? Retrieved from:
US Department of Agriculture (2011). Food CPI and expenditures. Retrieved from:
US Food and Drug Administration (2008). Guidance for industry: A labeling guide for restaurants and other retail establishments selling away-from-home foods. Retrieved from:

9. Additional References
Larson, M. and Story, M. (2009). Does providing nutrition information at point of purchase affect consumer behavior? A Research Synthesis. Retrieved from:
Lin, B., Guthrie, J. and Frazao, J. Nutrient contribution of food away from home. USDA Economic Research Service. Retrieved from:
Roberto, C., Schwartz, M. and Brownell, K. (2009). Rationale and evidence for menu-labeling legislation. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 37 (6): doi: /j.amepre
Collen IP Intellectual Property Law (2011). State and local menu nutrition labeling legislation summary. Retrieved from: