Tell the FDA: Implement Menu Labeling Now!
Do you know how many calories you get when you eat out?
Supermarkets and restaurants are minefields. A recent study from the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center found that the average entrée by itself had roughly 1,300 calories. And that doesn't even factor calories from drinks, appetizers, or desserts!
Given the high rates of obesity and obesity-related illness, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, health and nutrition experts have been pushing for the need of menu labeling in restaurants. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently delayed implementation of menu labeling by a whole year and plans to weaken how calories are labeled, making them harder to find and use.
Extending the deadline for menu labeling until May 2018 would be more than eight years after the 2010 law passed. We can't keep delaying the implementation of menu labeling when obesity rates are skyrocketing and more diet-related deaths take place in the United States.
We have until July 3rd to oppose this effort. Sign your name and tell the FDA to move forward with implementing menu labeling regulations!
Dear Commissioner Gottlieb:
I strongly support immediate implementation of menu labeling in chain restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, movie theaters, and other food establishments. I oppose any further delay or weakening of the menu labeling rules and urge the FDA to revoke the one-year delay for compliance.
I want calorie labeling when eating out. Extending the deadline for menu labeling until May 2018 would be more than eight years after the 2010 law passed.
The FDA should ensure that nutrition information remains available not only in restaurants, but also for restaurant-like food in supermarkets and convenience stores. I also ask that you not weaken the rules for menu labeling and make them confusing (such as by allowing restaurants to use arbitrary serving sizes, like half a muffin) or not posted where people are making food selections (such as only on the Internet and not in the restaurant or allowing calories to be posted far from where customers are choosing foods).
[your comment here]
Given the high rates of obesity and obesity-related illness, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, the FDA should act quickly to move forward with implementing the menu labeling regulations as finalized.
Sincerely,
[your name]
