SACRAMENTO Calif. The state Senate, by a 21-18 vote, gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would require restaurant chains with 15 or more outlets in California to post a range of nutritional information on their menus as of next July 1.
If signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the menus would have to state how many calories, grams of saturated fat, grams of trans fats, milligrams of sodium and grams of carbohydrates are in each regularly offered food item. Specials, limited-time offers and alcoholic beverages are exempted from the requirement.
Restaurants that use menu boards would be required to display only calorie counts but would have to make the other information available in printed form at the point of purchase.
Earlier this week, a federal judge struck down what is believed to be the nation's first menu-labeling mandate, in New York City. U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Holwell said he overturned the regulation because it conflicted with federal law, the traditional authority on the disclosure of nutrition information. However, the New York City rule was decreed by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and was not passed by the City Council or other legislative body.
At least 13 states other than California are also considering menu-labeling legislation.
