Menu Labeling

Read a report of our April 2009 assessment "Nutrition Information in Lane County Fast Food and Chain Restaurants" here.

Consumers have a right to nutrition information

Americans now eat more meals at restaurants than at home.  However, there is a large gap in access to nutrition information at chain restaurants, making it difficult for consumers to make informed choices when eating out.  Without clear information, how would a consumer know, for example, that a large McDonald’s shake has more calories (1160) than a Big Mac (540) and Large Fries (500) put together?

Clear, usable nutrition information is currently hard to find

Although many restaurants make the nutrition information available, it is rarely displayed in a place that is easy to see when making food choices. 

Calorie Counts are one powerful tool to help people manage a healthy weight

Although calorie counts are not a silver bullet to address obesity, they are one powerful tool to help people manage their weight.

Nutrition Information should be available when consumers make decisions, to enable them to make healthier choices.

When calories are displayed on websites, tray liners, or other media, the information is not easily accessible to consumers when they order food.  Therefore, it is critical that the information is clearly visible in the restuarant, preferably on menus and menu boards, allowing consumers to use the information when making food choices.

Nutrition Labeling will benefit Lane County residents now, and help prompt action on the state and federal level

Caloric content labeling is one critical step the county can take to improve the health of residents and prompt the state to take action.  This has worked in the past with smoking laws and will also work with nutrition information.

Please visit these sites for more information about Nutrition Labeling

Center for Science in the Public Interest
Sample nutrition information policies from across the country, news articles, info sheets for download, and more   http://www.cspinet.org/menulabeling/ 

Multnomah County Public Health Dept., Chronic Disease Prevention Program
The latest on chain restaurant nutrition labeling in Portland area; including their recently adopted policy order and administrative rules   http://mchealth.org/chronic/labeling.shtml

Take the “Fast Food Quiz” from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy
Test your knowledge of caloric, fat and salt content in various foods from popular fast-food restaurants http://www.publichealthadvocacy.org/menulabelingquiz.php

 Test your knowledge of portion size

Portion-sizes.pdf