California Passes Nation’s First Statewide Menu Labeling Law

By a vote of 42 to 31, the California Assembly tonight made California the first state in the nation to pass statewide legislation requiring fast-food outlets and chain restaurants to provide nutrition information at the point of purchase – a move favored by 84 percent of Californians in a statewide poll last April. Commonly known as the menu-labeling law, Senate Bill 120 (Padilla/Migden) is seen as landmark legislation to help Californians make healthier choices.

“The Assembly vote confirms that 35 million Californians have a right to know what they are eating before they order it,” explained Dr. Harold Goldstein of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA), a sponsor of the legislation. “This is solid, well-thought-out legislation that recognizes that consumers can’t possibly make a healthy choice without basic nutrition information on menus and menu boards.”

The challenge to understand chain restaurant menus was highlighted earlier this year when a statewide Field Research Corporation poll was released showing that only 10 percent of Californians could pick the healthiest item from a short list of common fast foods. Restaurants and fast-food outlets are a key concern because Americans spend nearly half their food dollars away from home.

When signed by the Governor, SB 120 will make California the first state to require chain restaurants and fast-food outlets to provide nutritional information for standard menu items. Specifically, the bill requires the number of calories to be posted on menu boards. Printed menus would provide the amount of calories, grams of saturated fat, trans fats, sodium and carbohydrates.

Earlier this year, New York City and Washington’s King County mandated similar menu labeling requirements, part of a growing national trend to help consumers beat America’s growing obesity crisis. California’s SB 120, however, marks the first time that a state legislature has passed this policy (New York and King County adopted the policy through regulation).

CCPHA is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization leading efforts in California to understand and address the state’s growing obesity crisis. The American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and California Optometric Association are also sponsors of the bill. For more information on this legislation, visit the CCPHA site at: www.publichealthadvocacy.org.