SALEM Ore. A proposal to require chain restaurants throughout Oregon to post calorie counts is advancing to the House floor, after it was approved by a state legislative committee on Monday.
House Bill 2726 would require chain restaurants with 15 or more units to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards, as well as offer more detailed nutrition information at the point of sale in brochures or handouts.
If adopted, Oregon would become the second state to require menu labeling, following California, where a similar law was approved last year and implementation will begin in July.
On Monday, the bill in Oregon was amended to pre-empt local menu-labeling ordinances. As written, the pre-emption would not include Multnomah County, which includes the city of Portland, where lawmakers adopted a menu-labeling mandate last year, according to Oregon Restaurant Association, or ORA, officials.
Sponsors of the bill, however, have indicated that language would be changed to include Multnomah County in the pre-emption if the proposal advances to the Senate, said Kara Thallon, ORA spokeswoman.
The state bill is very similar to the rules adopted in Multnomah County. That local ordinance went into effect March 12, although restaurant operators have until the end of the year to comply. The state bill would delay implementation of menu board and menu postings until 2011, although restaurants would be required to provide calorie information on request by January 2010.
Thallon said the ORA supports the idea of uniformity under a statewide bill that would prevent a patchwork of local ordinances.
She noted that the association is still working with lawmakers to clarify aspects of the bill, including whether alcoholic beverages and self-serve menu options, such as salad bars, would be included in menu-labeling requirements.
At press time, the House vote had not been scheduled.
More than 30 states, cities or countries have enacted or are considering menu-labeling legislation. Among the states are Oklahoma, Tennessee, Indiana, Florida, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and South Carolina. Maryland lawmakers decided to abandon their push for a statewide bill in late March.
New York City last year became the first city to enforce a calorie-posting rule at chain restaurants with 15 or more locations. Westchester County in New York, King County in Washington and Philadelphia also have enacted disclosure regulations.
Federal lawmakers also are considering the Labeling Education and Nutrition Act, or LEAN Act, a measure that would mandate the posting of nutritional information at chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets. It would also provide liability protection to restaurants that comply with the law.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].