Nutrition menu labeling goes into effect in many King County chain restaurants on Thursday, allowing customers to make more informed food choices, according to county officials.
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Chain restaurants with 15 or more national locations will post calorie, saturated fat, carbohydrate and sodium information on menus and menu boards at or before the point of ordering.
“We are thrilled that the regulation is about to be realized,” said Julia Patterson, chair of the King County Council and Board of Health, said in a press release. “King County is among the first jurisdictions in the nation to provide customers at chain restaurants with information they want, at or before they order their meals.”
Since the Board of Health action in April 2008, Public Health and stakeholders from the restaurant industry have worked closely to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Industry members helped define the policies and procedures for implementation, suggest the most useful education tools and provide the best way to reach industry members.
“The restaurant industry has been working diligently with the Board of Health and Public Health staff to ensure we can meet the regulation requirements,” said Anthony Anton, president and CEO of the Washington Restaurant Association. “I am pleased to see this sort of effort and collaboration and our industry is hopeful this will have a positive health impact on the lives of King County residents.”
There are more than 1,550 restaurants representing 160 chains in King County. Public Health staff provided technical assistance to corporate headquarters of many of those chains, guiding them on how to post information on menus and menu boards. Over 2800 questions from the industry have been addressed. Many of these questions were pared down and incorporated into a reference guide, printed by Public Health and distributed to chains.
In the coming weeks, Public Health will launch a public education campaign about menu labeling telling customers to “Be Informed, Be Healthy.” Indoor bus advertisements and radio public service announcements in English and Spanish will encourage customers to read menu labels and make healthier choices. The campaign focuses on eating fewer calories, since higher calorie intake is more closely associated with obesity and related chronic diseases.
“Having nutrition information available to customers is an important step in reducing the obesity epidemic in King County,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “This campaign informs consumers that one way they can take charge of their health is by reading menu labels and making healthier choices when they eat out in chain restaurants.”
An education toolkit will be available soon for community organizations working with families on nutrition and chronic disease prevention issues. Designed for community events such as health fairs and nutrition-focused classes, the toolkit includes flyers and an interactive game for families to learn about choosing healthier, lower calorie items when eating in chain restaurants.
Research shows that many people eat a third of their calories, and spend nearly half of their food budget, on food eaten away from the home. Many of these foods are high in sodium, fat and calories, all contributors to chronic health issues like obesity, heart disease and diabetes. More than 719,000 King County residents are overweight or obese. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death; and, in a recent 10-year period, the rate of diabetes in King County nearly doubled.
