Skip navigation

Restaurant group asks for guidance while waiting for ruling on NYC labeling

NEW YORK The judge hearing the restaurant industry’s challenge of a pending law requiring some chain restaurants here to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards said Monday that he would not rule on the matter by the time the measure goes into effect March 31.

The statement from U.S. District Judge Richard C. Holwell prompted the New York State Restaurant Association to request guidance from the judge on what to tell members until his decision is handed down, said Rick Sampson, the NYSRA’s chairman. The association is also asking for confirmation that the city will grant a six-week grace period during which restaurants will not be fined for violating the mandate.

If the measure were put into full effect next Monday, qualifying establishments would have to post new menu boards or adopt new menus. Places that do not have a printed or posted drink menu would have to find a way of providing calorie information on beverages, which are covered under the labeling law.

Asource close to the case said the judge is expected to rule on the matter before the middle of April.

Alaw requiring local branches of chains with at least 15 units nationwide to post calorie counts for each regular item on their menus or menu boards was issued in January by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The NYSRA has challenged the measure and the board of health’s authority to issue it, arguing that only the federal government has the authority to regulate the disclosure of nutrition information

TAGS: News
Hide comments

Comments

  • Allowed HTML tags: <em> <strong> <blockquote> <br> <p>

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Publish