FDA kicks calorie count legislation into the long grass for the third time

US legislation requiring restaurants and other food retailers to include nutritional information on menus and signage was delayed for a third time this May, a mere four days before the proposed implantation deadline.

While cost is a concern for some of those campaigning against the new rules, many big name brands already adhere to the proposed changes. Combined with consumer demand for more transparency, this is likely not an end to efforts to provide more nutritional information to consumers.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 'Nutritional Labelling of Standard Menu Items in Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments' was first proposed as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. It has been further delayed until May 7^th 2018.

The FDA hoped forcing food retailers to display the nutritional breakdown of their menu items might help reverse the current obesity epidemic. This follows consumer demand for more information, as a GlobalData survey found that 46% of US consumers claim to be actively trying to reduce calorie consumption. 

Coalition group of more than 73,000 pizza stores The American Pizza Community (APC) were major opponents of the legislation claiming it “threatened to impose excessive burdens on thousands of small businesses without achieving meaningful improvements in education consumers”.

It was also argued that pizza companies would be disproportionately affected by the legislation change because of the sheer number of possible pizza combinations available.

The APC claimed the cost of regularly updating menu signs would cost each store between $3,500 and $5,000, with the change having minimum impact considering the majority of pizza orders are placed over the phone or internet. 

The eleventh hour delay came too late for some convenience stores and restaurants, including Krispy Kreme, who are set to comply with the new regulations early. Other major fast food operators including McDonald’s and Burger King already adhere to the FDA’s proposed changes.