Remember the pending FDA restaurant nutrition labeling rules? Expect a little more time before you hear any more about that. It has caused angst among restaurant chains for the past year as they scramble to change menus and formulations to look better under public scrutiny.
I’m in Washington D.C. at the International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) annual conference where I caught the lowdown on where the FDA is on this piece of proposed legislation.
Everyone has been told that the final labeling rules will be issued by the end of 2011, and the industry will have six months to comply before the rules become law. Now expect the rules to be released in Q1 2012, and become law six months later.
But all that’s a guess. I listened to the panel discussion “Politics, Policy and Foodservice,” and Joan Rector McGlockton, VP of Industry Affairs and Food Policy for the National Restaurant Association, said the NRA is pushing to have the six month compliance expanded to one year.
The panel agreed that the FDA doesn’t understand the restaurant industry, and certainly doesn’t understand the contract management side (the Sodexos, Aramarks and Compass Groups of the world).
Of note to restaurants, these rules are expected to apply to multi-unit restaurants of 20 units or more. So independent restaurants are exempt and can go on with business as usual.
One thing that is expected to happen by the end of the year… NRA is coming out with a smart app. Not sure what that is expected to be. Watch www.restaurant.org for that. Also, NRA’s “Kids LiveWell” initiative with restaurant chains pledging to better their kid’s menus will soon make a second major announcement of other major chains joining the effort. I wonder if McD’s will be on the list. It was noticeably absent from the inauguration of the program, though McDonald’s came out with its own improved kid’s menu around the same time.
We couldn’t be in Washington D.C. and not breathe a word about taxes. NRA’s Joan imagined what changes could be on the horizon. She thinks that a soda tax, or fat tax or the regulation of certain food ads to kids could go up to the federal level some day. Discussions so far have only been on the local level.
That’s the latest from Washington, D.C. On a personal note, I was just voted onto the board of IFEC. I’m excited to get involved. I’ve been a member for seven years. Time to roll up my sleeves and get to work for this great organization.
Jody
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