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By Lisa  Jennings

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June  29, 2009) Chain restaurant operators throughout California said they are prepared to comply this week with the first phase of a state menu-labeling mandate, but many noted that preparation did not immediately include posting calories on menus and menu boards.

Beginning Wednesday, July 1, chains with 20 units or more in California must either offer a brochure at point of sale detailing nutrition data on all standard menu items, or they must post calorie counts for those items on menus and menu boards.

By Jan. 1, 2011, all chains with 20 or more units must post the calorie counts.

The legislation’s sponsor, state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-San Fernando Valley, said in the past that he hopes most restaurants will post calories sooner, rather than later. However, several chains contacted last week said that they would offer the nutrition information in brochures by July 1, but would deal with revising their menus and menu boards to list calories at some point next year.

Officials at Panda Express, Starbucks, Taco Bell, El Pollo Loco, Del Taco and Carl’s Jr. said their stores throughout the state would have brochures available, starting Wednesday if not sooner.

Some chain operators said they are taking the opportunity to actively promote more healthful items on their menus.

Chinese quick-service chain Panda Express this week will launch a “Wok Smart” program to highlight menu items with 250 calories or less, which includes about 18 menu items. The nutritional brochures will spotlight those items with a wok icon. The brochure will also offer recommendations for menu combinations that will help customers reach their daily requirements for vegetables, said Angella Green, marketing director for Panda Restaurant Group, based in Rosemead, Calif.

By Lisa  Jennings

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Starting July 8 in all Panda Express units nationwide, the wok icon will also appear on steam table food tags in restaurants. A note on menu boards will explain to consumers that the wok icon designates the lower-in-calorie options, said Green.

The chain’s 461 stores in California will also post calorie counts on menu boards at some point next year, though each unit will probably make the change during routine menu board updates, which will vary regionally, Green said.

Taco Bell, the quick-service Mexican chain based in Irvine, Calif., with more than 900 stores in the state, is also offering a brochure with complete nutrition data, starting this week. The brochure also highlights the chain’s “fresco menu,” including eight lower-in-calorie items with 9 grams of fat or less, said spokesman Rob Poetsch.

Taco Bell parent Yum! Brands Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., has pledged to voluntarily post calorie counts among all its brands nationally by 2011, including the KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W All-American and Long John’s Silver brands.

Grilled chicken chain El Pollo Loco, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., for some time has been offering nutritional information in stores via laminated posters and tear sheets available for consumers to take home. To comply with the deadline this week, however, units in California have added drive thru speaker wraps to communicate to guests that nutrition information is available on request, said spokeswoman Julie Weeks.

El Pollo Loco’s website also features a nutrition calculator allowing consumers to customize menu selections and more healthful items are identified as “Healthy Dining” endorsed or certified by the Lindora Lean for Life diet plan.

California is the first state to require menu labeling, though menu-labeling bills have been approved by lawmakers in Massachusetts, Oregon, Connecticut and Maine. Other states considering such measures are Oklahoma, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York and South Carolina.

Jurisdictions such as New York City, Westchester County in New York, King County in Washington and Philadelphia have also adopted menu-labeling mandates.

Federal legislation is also pending that, if adopted, would preempt existing state and local laws. The measure under consideration is very similar to California’s law, requiring chains with 20 or more units to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards.

Contact Lisa Jennings at ljenning@nrn.com