Tag: menu
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Christopher Banthin, “How Many Calories in that Big Apple?: New York City’s First in the Nation Calorie Disclosure Law,” PHAI Case Study
The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) recently posted a case study that discusses the process which led to the adoption of a restaurant calorie disclosure law in New York City. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Public Health Practice & Policy Solutions, the case study focuses on threats of litigation that arose throughout the…
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RICO Claims Against Applebee’s and Weight Watchers Dismissed
A federal court in Kansas has dismissed a putative class action filed against Applebee’s International, Inc. and Weight Watchers International, Inc., finding that the claims raised under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) were not sufficiently alleged. Shepard v. Applebee’s Int’l, Inc., No. 08-2416 (D. Kan., decided April 7, 2010). Details about the…
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Nestle Criticizes Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling at IOM Meeting
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) held an open session on April 9, 2010, to gather information on front-of-package (FOP) nutrition rating systems and symbols. Speakers included representatives from (i) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.K. Food Standards Agency, (ii) the American Heart Association, (iii) ConAgra Foods, the General Mills Bell Institute of…
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Expanded Nutrition Labeling Requirements Will Extend to Restaurants, Retail Food Establishments and Vending Machines
President Barack Obama (D) signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. Pub. L. 111-148. Tucked into this sweeping health care reform measure is a provision that will require restaurants, retail food establishments and vending machines to provide certain nutrition information. The new law expands the provisions of the…
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New Jersey Requires Chain Restaurants to Post Calorie Counts
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine (D) has reportedly signed a bill (S. 2905/A. 4236) that requires major restaurant chains doing business in the state to fully disclose calorie information on menu items. Franchises with more than 20 locations nationally must post calorie counts next to each item on the menu, as well as on drive-through…
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Researchers Say Calorie Labels on Restaurant Menus Affect Food Choices
Yale University researchers, including Kelly Brownell, have published a study that concludes “Calorie labels on restaurant menus impacted food choices and intake; adding a recommended daily caloric requirement label increased this effect, suggesting menu label legislation should require such a label.” Christina Roberto, et al., “Evaluating the Impact of Menu Labeling on Food Choices and…
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Federal Courts Remand Two Class Actions Against Applebee’s to State Court
Federal courts in Ohio and Kentucky have remanded putative class claims alleging that Applebee’s International, Inc., DineEquity, Inc. and Weight Watchers International, Inc. misrepresented the calorie and nutritional information on the Weight Watchers menu items available in Applebee’s restaurants. Curry v. Applebee’s Int’l, Inc., No. 09-505 (S.D. Ohio, filed November 17, 2009); Kramer v. Applebee’s Int’l,…
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Health Care Legislation Would Require Chain Restaurants, Vending Machines to Post Calorie Counts
A provision in the U.S. House of Representatives’ proposed 1,990-page health care legislation (H.R. 3962) requires fast-food chains with 20 or more locations and vending machine owners to conspicuously post calorie counts. Section 2572 apparently goes a step further than menu-labeling initiatives in New York City and elsewhere by also requiring information about how those…