The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided a one-year delay to the date restaurants—and those deemed by FDA to be “similar retail food establishments”—would be required to apply the final chain restaurant menu-labeling rule. The menu labeling rule requires chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calorie information on their menus and menu boards.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin says her group appreciates the extension.
“We’re encouraged that FDA’s commitment will give us more time to at least garner some clarity and answers without feeling rushed to make difficult business decisions in an attempt to comply by Dec. 1, 2015, with regulations that are unclear,” she said.
The compliance date is extended until December 2016.
FMI says it will continue to work with both FDA and Congress to address business challenges with implementing restaurant menu labeling in grocery stores. Wednesday’s U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s vote and the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (House Resolution 2017) remain critical pieces of legislation for the food retail industry, FMI says.
Added Greg Ferrara, VP of public affairs for the National Grocers Association (NGA), “Independent supermarket operators work hard each and every day to build and maintain their consumers’ trust by providing information and transparency on the food products they serve. While NGA appreciates the FDA recognizing the need for a delay, there are still are concerns surrounding implementation of the law. We will continue to work with our champions in Congress, Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Sanchez, to pass HR 2017, which reduces the burdens of this regulation and provides the necessary reforms and flexibility to our members.”
