Request for Public Comment - Chain Restaurant Nutrition Labeling Policy Order 08-114
Background: A Chain Restaurant Nutrition Labeling Policy Order was passed in July 2008 by the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners, acting as Board of Health. The policy requires chain restaurants located in Multnomah County with at least 15 outlets anywhere in the country to: 1) post calorie information for standard menu items on printed menus, menu boards, and food tags and 2) provide information about sodium, carbohydrates, trans fat, and saturated fat for standard menu items upon request by consumers at the time of ordering. By providing nutrition information to customers at the time of ordering, restaurants will play an important role in enabling the dining-out public to make informed choices about what they eat.
Thursday November 6th
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Southeast Health Center
3653 SE 34th Ave. downstairs auditorium
Portland, OR 97202
Thursday November 20th
6:00 – 8:00 PM
426 SW Stark St., 10th Floor
Portland, OR 97232
Impacted Restaurants: Approximately 500 restaurants in Multnomah County will be affected by this rule, and initial assessments show that there are less than 10 chains in the county not already impacted by menu labeling requirements adopted in other jurisdictions. If you have questions about your status, please call Sonia Manhas at 503-988-3674 ext. 26221.
The Draft Rules: The Multnomah County Health Department is coordinating a rule-making process to set forth how Policy Order 08-114 will be implemented and enforced. The draft rules can be downloaded from the Health Department’s website at www.mchealth.org. Printed copies can be requested by calling Esther Leckie at (503) 988-3674 ext. 26401.
Posted on October 8, 2008
Comments
(Note: Comments are the views of their authors, and no one else.)
Posted by: Judy Stabler - November 10, 2008 03:11 PM
I am absolutely in favor of requiring restaurants to provide nutrition information to the public. I read all labels before I buy a product at the grocery store, and I want the same information about food I buy when I eat out. NOT just "chains," but any establishment that prepares and serves food owes that to their customers. There is no other way to make people aware of what they are eating so they can make good choices. We shouldn't have to eat "mystery food." The info should be prominently displayed on the menu, not hidden behind the cash register, and should be presented in an easily understood format. What's so hard about that???