The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have made it available for you to provide input on the new caloric recommendations it has made this week concerning fast food chains and vending machines. See below for how you can be a part of the proposed new rules that can educate your decisions as you try to stick to the on the average recommended 2,000 calorie a day intake.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius states:
“These proposals will ensure that consumers have more information when they make their own food choices. Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier.”
Under the new guidelines, consumers would see calories listed in restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations. Examples of these establishments include fast food establishments, bakeries, coffee shops and certain grocery and convenience stores. Movie theaters, airplanes, bowling alleys, and other establishments whose primary purpose is not to sell food would not be subject to this proposed regulation.
FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. adds:
“Americans now consume about one-third of their total calories on foods prepared outside the home. While consumers can find calorie and other nutrition information on most packaged foods, it’s not generally available in restaurants or similar retail establishments. This proposal is aimed at giving consumers consistent and easy-to-understand nutrition information.”
The Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act requires the disclosure of calorie and other nutrition information in certain food establishments and for certain foods sold in vending machines. Additionally, on menus and menu boards, statements would be posted concerning suggested daily calorie intake and indicating that additional nutrition information is available on request.
Under the proposal, this information would be displayed clearly and prominently on menus and menu boards, including menu boards in drive-through locations; and for individual foods on display.
Under the proposed rules, operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines would post calorie information for food sold in a vending machine, unless certain nutrition information is already visible on individual packages of food inside the machine.
State and local governments could not impose any different nutrition labeling requirements for food sold in restaurants, similar retail food establishments, and vending machines covered by the Federal requirements. Restaurants, similar retail food establishments, and vending machine operators that are not covered by the Federal requirements could voluntarily register to be covered under the Federal nutrition labeling regulations.
The FDA is seeking public comment on the proposed rule for menu labeling for 60 days (until 06-06-2011). Comments on the proposed rule on vending machines may be submitted for 90 days (until 07-05-2011).
To submit your comments link HERE and:
- Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar
- Enter the follow docket numbers in the “Keyword” space: docket number FDA-2011-F-0172 for menu items in restaurants and similar retail food establishments, and docket number FDA-2011-F-0171 for vending machines.
- Select “Search”
Your BMR, or basal metabolic rate (metabolism), is the energy (measured in calories) expended by the body at rest to maintain normal bodily functions. This continual work makes up about 60-70% of the calories we use, or burn and includes the beating of our heart, respiration, and the maintenance of body temperature. Your BMR is influenced by a number of factors, including age, weight, height, gender, environmental temperature, dieting, and exercise habits.
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Written by Sy Kraft, B.A.