MenuTrinfo recently hosted a webinar with Unilever to explain the menu labeling process and help to solve some of the confusion surrounding the detailed regulations. The MenuTrinfo and Unilever webinar had a great turn out with a wide range of listeners from the restaurant and catering industry, military and more! We really hope that listening to the webinar was helpful, but just in case anyone needs a little extra help, especially since there’s more time to get your menus up to FDA standards, here are 5 of your menu labeling questions answered:
1) Who is required to list calories on menus?
First things first—let’s discuss who is required to list calories on their menus according to the FDA. Establishments such as restaurants, grocery stores, catering companies, convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, college dining facilities, movie theaters and ice cream shops must label their menu boards with calorie information. The specific requirements are for any foodservice establishment that serves restaurant-type food and have 20 or more locations that serve substantially the same menu items, regardless of ownership.
2) How can MenuTrinfo nutritionals and menu labeling be certified?
MenuTrinfo can help you with all of your menu labeling needs, but how can we certify that the information we provide you is correct? Well, I’m glad you asked! The first step for having approved certifications for the FDA is to determine the “reasonable basis” behind your posted nutritional values. The FDA has approved several analytical methods for generating nutritional information. Nutrient database analysis, laboratory analysis and cookbooks are the three methods that are cited most frequently in the menu labeling publications. Combinations of these “reasonable bases” may also be used. The information above, whether supplied by a third party (like MenuTrinfo) or not, must also be accompanied by a signed and dated statement by a responsible individual at the corporate level who can attest to the methods used and declare that they are reasonable and accurate.
3) Where do calorie listings have to be displayed?
Caloric information must be displayed on all menus and menu boards. Basically, any material that customers can use to place an order must have calorie listings.
4) How does this regulation work for “Made-To-Order” establishments?
Menu labeling is required for any standard menu items that are routinely offered for sale at a covered establishment. If your establishment does not serve any standard menu items that are covered under the rule then you will not need to create a menu board to fulfill the requirements. However, if your establishment specializes in customizable options like a build-your-own burrito or salad and the options are either on display or listed on a menu somewhere, the individual components will need to have calories listed so the guests can calculate the total calories of his or her dish.
5) How will this FDA ruling be regulated?
The exact enforcement plan from the FDA has not yet been released. However, it has been mentioned several times by FDA representatives that the first year of implementation will be more focused on education. This is one of the areas that we anticipate being clarified in the additional guidance that the FDA is set to release in August of this year.
Any items that are deemed as misbranded based on the labeling regulations will be subject to the same penalties as misbranded retail foods as we understand it.
Please remember that MenuTrinfo is always here to help you sort through any of your menu labeling problems. We have special packages that are in place to suit your specific menu labeling needs, take a look at the packages and special offers here. Then, give us a call at 888.767.6368 and be on the road to becoming FDA compliant!
Image: bodavickyseba/flickr
