WASHINGTON Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have reintroduced the Labeling Education and Nutrition Act, or LEAN Act, a federal measure that would mandate the posting of nutritional information at some chain restaurants.
Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced their version of the bill Tuesday, and Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Fred Upton, R-Mich., offered their companion bill Wednesday.
The LEAN Act, which was introduced originally in both legislative chambers late last year, has garnered widespread support from such industry associations as the National Restaurant Association, the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the International Franchise Association and the Coalition for Responsible Nutrition Information. The groups see it as a solution to the patchwork of menu-labeling laws popping up at an accelerating pace nationwide. More than 30 cities, counties and states in the recent past have enacted or are considering nutrition disclosure laws.
The LEAN Act would require restaurant and grocery chains with 20 or more outlets to make nutritional data for menu items available to customers prior to the point of purchase. Specials that are on the menu for 90 days or less would be exempt. The measure also would pre-empt all earlier state and local menu-labeling mandates and preclude states and localities from enacting tougher rules in the future.
In addition, it would provide liability protection to restaurants that comply with the law.
According to the LEAN Act, foodservice operations with menu boards would have the choice of listing calories on the board, on a sign next to the menu board, on a sign in the queue or by other means as decided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The measure also states that restaurants with menus could list calories directly on the menu, a supplemental menu, a menu insert or a menu appendix.
Additional nutrition information Ñ like that contained in the boxes displayed on all packaged foods Ñ also would be required to be available in writing prior to the point of purchase for restaurants with menus and menu boards. In addition to calories, the information would address such nutritional items as fats, sodium and sugar.
Restaurants also must post statements on their menu boards or menus indicating that the suggested daily caloric intake is 2,000 calories.
In introducing the measure, Murkowski said: "It's been nearly 20 years since the enactment of the Nutrition Labeling Education Act that requires all packaged foods to include nutrient information. However, there is not a comparable national standard for prepared foods. I believe the LEAN Act, which has bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, will facilitate a national debate on the important issue of menu labeling and raise a broader discussion on healthy lifestyle choices."
Beth Johnson, the NRA's executive vice president of public affairs, commended the senators on the reintroduction of the bill, and said the association "strongly supports the legislation's goal to replace a patchwork of inconsistent state and local ordinances with a national standard for chain restaurants that empowers consumers to make the choices that are best for them and their families."
Contact Paul Frumkin at [email protected].