As restaurant owners and managers you are accustomed to customers inquiries for ingredient and nutritional information of your menu. Until now answering these questions was purely at the discretion of the management. However, recent changes in state and federal laws may have you asking:
Am I legally required to post nutritional information on menus?
The short answer: Maybe.
Before you get too frustrated, we are happy to help you determine your requirements with a few easy questions.
Is your restaurant part of a chain of 20 or more establishments?
If you answered yes, you are legally obligated to provide nutritional information on your menu (including drive thru menus). With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, section 4205 included a requirement that establishments with 20 or more locations provide their customers menu information. You can read the FDA press release here.
If you answered no, you’re not off the hook yet. Keep reading.
Is your restaurant located in any of the following locations?
- Albany County, NY
- Arkansas
- California
- Chicago, IL
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Davidson County, TN
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- King County, WA
- Lane County, OR
- Los Angeles County, CA
- Maryland
- Massachusettes
- Minneapolis, MN
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montgomery County, MD
- Multnomah County, OR
- Nashville, TN
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- New York City, NY
- Oklahoma
- Oregon State
- Rhode Island
- Rockland County, NY
- Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Clara County, CA
- Schenectady County, NY
- South Carolina
- St Paul, MN
- Suffolk County, NY
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Ulster County, NY
- Vermont
- Washington
- Westchester County, NY
- West Virginia
If you answered yes, you may be currently required to provide nutritional information. Each of these locations listed has passed or is reviewing legislation requiring restaurants to provide nutritional information on menus. If your restaurant is included, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in determining if you are currently or will be soon required to post information.
Still all nos?
You’re not off the hook. While this list is current as of today, new legislation is being introduced all the time. And there are certainly countless reasons to offer your customers the information prior to being legally obligated.
Ready to learn more? Contact us at 1-888-767-MENU (6368) and our staff will be happy to help ensure your compliance with municipal, state, and federal legislation. To ensure you stay informed of the latest trends and changes which will affect your business, be certain to subscribe to our mailing list on your right.
