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(November 9, 2006) Parliament has soundly rejected a proposal for mandatory menu labelling, defeating a private member's bill by a vote of 198 - 64. In doing so, MPs from all parties acknowledged the unnecessary complexity the legislation would create, and the fact that chain restaurants are providing nutrition information in more consumer-friendly formats.
Introduced by Liberal MP Tom Wappel, Bill C-283 would have required foodservice operators with over $10 million in annual sales to list calories beside each item on their menu board and calories, fat and sodium beside each item on their printed menu. The bill was very similar to two other bills proposed by Mr. Wappel in recent years.
Over the past several months, MPs learned first-hand from restaurant operators how unworkable menu labelling can be in a restaurant environment, where many items are made to order and menu items and ingredients change regularly. Many chain restaurants now provide their customers with detailed nutrition information at point of sale, in the form of brochures and posters, as well as on websites.
CRFA also highlighted to MPs the fact that 28 foodservice companies - representing more than 40% of chain restaurant locations - have signed on to CRFA’s voluntary Nutrition Information Program, and provide customers with detailed nutrition and allergen information for standard menu items. By providing information on the same 13 nutrients included on the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged goods, the Nutrition Information Program uses a standardized format to address the wide range of dietary concerns and preferences among consumers.
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