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The FDA’s new menu labeling requirements, which went into effect on May 7, apply to restaurant chains with 20 or more locations. They must disclose the number of calories contained in standard menu items, and provide nutrition information, including total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, etc. A Virginia Tech food and nutrition policy expert called the FDA’s rules “an important first step.” But the restaurant industry, which has contributed to “poor diet quality, obesity and related chronic diseases," should voluntarily implement strategies to promote healthy foods and beverages. Specifically, the industry should improve the nutritional profiles of products to reduce calories, sodium and fat; and standardize and limit portion sizes to 600 calories for kids' meals and 700 calories for adult meals. (© Wikimedia)
"Mandatory National Menu Labeling Underway. While It Is A Good Start, Restaurants Could Voluntarily Do Much More, According To Virginia Tech Expert", Virginia Tech, May 07, 2018
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 The Chicago Tribune editorial board is warning readers that the scary food labeling policy in Chile could happen in the U.S., thanks to possible revisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Because of a growing obesity problem, Chile requires food companies to label high-calorie or high-fat treats with black stop-sign-shaped warning labels. As part of the NAFTA negotiations, officials are discussing similar warning labels, though the Trump administration is opposed to them on American foods. The Trib editors, while acknowledging the obesity crisis, argue that food labels shouldn’t be a part of trade negotiations in the first place, and “scare tactics like warning labels are a huge Super-Nanny-State overreach.” They also argue that obesity is not caused by eating fatty or sugary foods. “It is caused by people eating too much of those foods.” (Image credit: © International Trademark Association)
"Scare us thin? NAFTA doesn’t hafta", Chicago Tribune, April 26, 2018
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 Groups with vested interests in the U.S. government’s forthcoming 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have weighed in with their comments on the proposals to the USDA and Dept. of Health and Human Services. Needless to say, the comments differed widely, covering environmental concerns, social policies, whole fruit versus juice, the science of saturated fat, the benefits of a plant-based diet, etc. The U.S. Cattleman’s Association, for example, urged the agencies to emphasize that “red meat is an essential part of a healthy whole food diet.” But the Food Law and Policy Clinic of Harvard Law School advised that the guidelines take into account the relationship between red and processed meat consumption and cardiovascular disease, risk of cancer, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. [Image credit: © Health.govs]
"Stakeholders square up for battle over scope of 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans", Food Navigator USA, March 31, 2018
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