The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published two proposed rules that address implementation of the menu labeling provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The proposed rules are entitled "Food labeling: Nutrition labeling of standard menu items in restaurants and similar retail food establishments," and "Food labeling: Calorie labeling of articles of food in vending machines."

Section 4205 of the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010, amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to, among other things, require restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name and offering for sale substantially the same menu items to provide calorie information and other nutrition information for standard menu items, including food on display and self-service food. Section 4205 also requires persons engaged in the business of owning or operating 20 or more vending machines provide calorie information for the articles of food sold from them. Under the Affordable Care Act, FDA is required to promulgate proposed regulations within a year of the date of the law's enactment.

For more information on Menu and Vending Machines Labeling, visit www.fda.gov/menulabeling.

Source: FDA

.