NEW CITY N.Y. A Rockland County, N.Y., legislator has proposed a bill that would make the county the latest jurisdiction to require local units of chains with at least 15 stores nationwide to disclose calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
The bill proposed by Joseph Meyers, a Democrat from Airmont, N.Y., is similar to the one in effect in New York City and another under consideration in Westchester County, N.Y.
"Providing calorie information is public health intervention and will help address the rapidly growing epidemics of obesity, diabetes and heart disease," Meyers said in a statement. "These diseases affect our entire society in terms of higher health care costs for everyone and higher taxes to support Medicare and Medicaid for the uninsured and underinsured. I am concerned that a result of the current economy more of our citizens will be frequenting fast food establishments."
Labeling proposals are also pending in areas ranging from Tennessee’s Davidson and Montgomery counties to Multnomah County, Ore. Measures have already been approved in California and King County, Wash.
The mandates are championed as a way to curb obesity by providing consumers with calorie counts and other nutrition information at the point of purchase. The exact disclosure requirements typically vary from law to law.
Abill introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives would pre-empt all state and local measures and create one disclosure standard. The Labeling Education and Nutrition, or LEAN, Act, is supported by the restaurant industry as a way of avoiding a nationwide patchwork of labeling regulations.
