City Budget
A Philadelphia City Council Committee approved a bill that would require restaurant chains and other eateries to post nutrition information about the food and beverages on menus and menu boards. A final vote could come as early as May 1st.
By Kerry Grens, WHYY Health and Science Desk
WHYY News, April 11, 2008
The city health department and other health advocates say that making nutritional information avaiable to consumers when they are ordering food can help to combat the city's rising obesity rate.
At yesterday's meeting of the Committee on Public Health and Human Services, Professor Gary Foster of Temple University testified that there are no data showing that printing calories on menus impact obesity. But, he added, it's obvious.
"If we wait for $50 million trials to be the basis for every change in nutritional policy that we make at the city, state or federal level, we'll be paralyzed," said Foster.
Restaurant owners argued that in addtion to incurring the costs of redoing their menus, they would also have to grapple with the task of trying to be accurate as they prepare food with so many cooks in the kitchen.
"I wish I could say that they all work the recipe the exact same way every time, but looking at my food costs and my waste, I am positive they do not," said Miguel Miranda, a managing partner of the Capital Grille.
A similar ordinance in Philadelphia failed last year.
New York, San Francisco, and Seattle all have passed bills that require calorie information on menus.
Additional Information
Full text of the bill
From the bill:
For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Section, notices of violation shall be issued by authorized Health Department inspectors or any other persons authorized to enforce ordinances.
 
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